The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced a comprehensive timetable for elections in different states across the country.
While some hold this 2025, others have been slated for 2026.
Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, unveiled the timetable during the second quarterly consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Mayhoom said, “The five major elections highlighted in the new timetable include bye-elections in 12 states, slated for August 16, 2025, followed by the Anambra State Governorship election on November 8, 2025.
“Looking into 2026, the schedule includes Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on February 21, 2026, the Ekiti State Governorship election on June 20, 2026, and the Osun State Governorship election on August 8, 2026.”
The INEC boss also announced the nationwide resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
“Online pre-registration will commence on August 18, 2025, followed by in-person registration across the country from August 25, 2025. For Anambra State, ahead of its governorship election, the CVR will begin earlier, next week, and will be conducted simultaneously in all 326 wards to ensure the compilation of a new voters’ register at least 90 days before the election, as required by law”, he said.
During the meeting, Yakubu welcomed two newly appointed National Commissioners, Professor Sunday Aja and Abdulrazak Yusuf, as well as six recently sworn-in RECs attending the meeting for the first time.
Ahead of these off-season and the 2027 general elections, Nigerians have been demanding a complete reform of the electoral process.
Many have been disenchanted especially with the outcome of the 2023 presidential election, where the votes were alleged to have been manipulated in several instances.
Particularly, the reported collapse of the electronic transmission of the presidential election, greatly affected the credibility of the exercise.
Yiaga Africa is one of the civil society organisations that have been at the forefront championing electoral reform ahead of 2027.
It said the off-season elections will serve as a litmus test.