INEC Rolls Out Election Gear Ahead of Saturday’s By-Elections

By: Oluwaseun Lawal

The countdown is on. INEC says it’s all systems go for the by-elections happening this Saturday, August 16, 2025. They’re covering 16 constituencies across 12 states — a big deal.

Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and head of Information and Voter Education, spilled the details after their weekly meeting in Abuja. The by-elections include two senatorial districts in Anambra and Edo, five federal constituencies spread across Edo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Ogun, and Oyo, plus nine state constituencies in places like Adamawa, Kano, and Zamfara.

Oh, and don’t forget the court-ordered reruns in Enugu South I and Ghari/Tsanyawa in Kano — those are happening at the same time.

All the non-sensitive election materials? Delivered. The tech stuff — like the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System — is set up and ready. Staff recruitment and training? Done. Security and logistics? Locked in. The last batch of sensitive materials is arriving today, right on schedule.

Olumekun reminded everyone: campaign time ends at midnight Thursday. With less than 48 hours to go, he urged political parties, candidates, voters, and everyone involved to stick to the rules. “Follow the law, follow the guidelines,” he said. “That’s how we keep things smooth.”

And here’s more — the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) is back. Online pre-registration opens August 18, with physical registration starting August 25 at 811 centers nationwide. Need help? Check INEC’s website for locations and contact numbers. Plus, a handy CVR Locator tool goes live on August 17.

This CVR isn’t just for newbies. You can transfer your registration or replace lost or damaged voter cards. But heads up — multiple registrations? Illegal. And punishable.

Olumekun stressed, “Only Nigerians 18 and older who haven’t registered before can take part. No double-dipping allowed.”

So, whether you’re voting this weekend or registering soon, INEC’s got you covered. Just play by the rules.