Voters in 16 constituencies across 12 states will tomorrow head to the polls for keenly contested by-elections, already seen as a test of strength for Nigeria’s major political parties.

The coalition-led African Democratic Congress (ADC), the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have intensified campaigns across the states, seeking victory in elections to fill two senatorial seats, five House of Representatives positions and nine state constituencies.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that 3,553,659 registered voters are eligible to participate, spread across 32 local government areas, 356 wards, and 6,987 polling units.

INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, said in a statement on Thursday that all arrangements had been concluded for the polls, scheduled for August 16.

said the exercise would cover “two Senatorial Districts in Anambra and Edo States; five Federal Constituencies in Edo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Ogun and Oyo States; and nine State Constituencies in Adamawa, Anambra, Kaduna (2), Kano, Kogi, Niger, Taraba and Zamfara States.”

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, speaking in Abuja during the commission’s second regular quarterly consultative meeting with political parties for 2025 in June, said the polls were necessitated by deaths, resignations, and other vacancies declared since the inauguration of the National and State Assemblies in June 2023.

“You may recall that in February last year, the commission conducted nine by-elections to fill vacancies resulting from the death or resignation of members,” Yakubu said. “Since then, more vacancies have been declared across the country.”

The by-elections will be held in Anambra South and Edo Central senatorial districts; Ovia South West/Ovia South East (Edo), Babura/Garki (Jigawa), Chikun/Kajuru (Kaduna), Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North (Ogun), and Ibadan North (Oyo) federal constituencies; as well as Ganye (Adamawa), Onitsha North I (Anambra), Dekina/Okura (Kogi), Zaria Kewaye and Basawa (Kaduna), Bagwai/Shanono (Kano), Mariga (Niger), Karim Lamido I (Taraba), and Kauran Namoda South (Zamfara) state constituencies.

INEC will also conduct two court-ordered re-runs in Enugu South I (Enugu) and Ghari/Tsanyawa (Kano) after previous attempts were disrupted by violence. Security agencies have assured the commission of adequate protection for the fresh exercise.

Yakubu said 30,451 officials would be deployed nationwide, while elections in Rivers’ Khana II and Zamfara’s Talata Mafara South constituencies remain suspended due to security and legal concerns.

On Thursday, Olumekun reminded political parties and candidates that campaigns would end at midnight Thursday and urged all stakeholders “to adhere strictly to the provisions of the law, regulations, and guidelines” for a smooth process.

He also announced that the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise would resume nationwide on Monday, August 18, with online pre-registration, followed by physical registration from August 25 at 811 INEC state and local government offices.

ADC rallies Obidient support, alleges intimidation in Ogun

With the Labour Party embroiled in a leadership crisis and lacking recognised INEC candidates, its 2023 presidential flag bearer, Peter Obi, on Thursday urged his “Obidient” supporters to back ADC candidates.

“Because the Labour Party has no recognised candidates, I humbly urge every member of the Obidient and COPDEM families to vote for the coalition party, ADC, in their respective states,” Obi said.

Former Kaduna governor, Nasir El-Rufai, also aligned with the ADC-led opposition coalition, campaigned in Chikun Local Government Area for House of Representatives candidate Alex Adamu.

His ally, Hafsat Baba, said turnout was “massive”, with the campaign moving across Kujama, Rido, and Nassarawa wards, and plans to support ADC contenders in Zaria/Kewaye and Sabon Gari.

In Ogun, ADC accused police of blocking its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, from attending the party’s final rally in Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North. State Chairman Femi Soluade alleged police “violently disrupted” the event despite prior notification.

“At Isale Oko in Sagamu, the Divisional Police Officer and Area Commander blocked us, claiming Governor Dapo Abiodun and APC members were occupying every nook and cranny,” Soluade said. He condemned what he described as “bias and political intimidation,” vowing the ADC would not be silenced.

Police spokesperson Omolola Odutola said she was unaware of the incident.

APC pushes momentum in Kano

In Kano, Deputy Senate President Barau I. Jibrin led a mega rally across Bagwai and Shanono LGAs to boost APC prospects. Flanked by Housing Minister Yusuf Abdullahi Ata and Appropriations Committee Chairman Abubakar Kabir Bichi, Barau framed the contest as laying groundwork for the party’s 2027 ambitions.

“Voting APC means laying the foundation for victory in the 2027 gubernatorial and presidential elections,” he told supporters.

The state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Zango Abdu, on Thursday said both sensitive and non-sensitive materials had been delivered to LGAs, BVAS devices configured, and security deployments in place.

“If your voter’s card is not recognised by BVAS, you will not be allowed to vote. There will be no alternative procedure,” he said, warning political actors against violence.

ADC/SDP coalition tackles Kaduna government

In Kaduna, the ADC/SDP coalition alleged Governor Uba Sani’s administration was plotting to rig the Chikun/Kajuru House of Representatives and state assembly polls in Zaria and Sabon Gari. They cited alleged recruitment of thugs, bribery of INEC staff, and vote-buying schemes, even claiming some officials were offered plots of land.

National Vice Chairman (North-West), Jafaru Ibrahim Sani, accused a “disgraced former senator” of coordinating funds for electoral manipulation and urged security agencies to resist being used to subvert voters’ will.

The Kaduna government dismissed the allegations as “laughable lies” from “political leftovers” of El-Rufai’s camp.

Information Commissioner-designate Ahmed Maiyaki said the coalition was facing imminent defeat and “crying wolf” to save face.

“We will not sit idly by while political opportunists smear the name of our administration,” Maiyaki said, adding that lawyers had been instructed to study the allegations for possible legal action.

Taking a swipe at El-Rufai, he recalled an incident in which he alleged that “the former governor sent thugs to the NUJ Secretariat, injuring journalists” behaviour he said was alien to Uba Sani’s leadership style.

“As we speak, the governor is in Chikun LGA flagging off the construction of Romi–Karatudu Township Roads, a community abandoned and demolished under El-Rufai’s eight-year rule,” he said.

Maiyaki accused the coalition of being rattled by Uba Sani’s inclusive leadership, which he said had united the state and delivered tangible development. He urged voters to turn out en masse on Saturday and disregard the “rantings of political jobbers” posing as defenders of democracy.

“Democracy in Kaduna is alive and thriving — and no amount of theatre from El-Rufai’s political leftovers in ADC will change that,” he added.

CSO warns of tension in Edo

In Edo, the Coalition of Observer Groups in Nigeria warned of possible electoral malpractice in Edo Central and Ovia federal constituency polls, claiming “credible reports” pointed to plans for duplicate result sheets and restricted access for opposition agents.

National Coordinator, Comrade Simon Diogu and National Secretary, Blessing Solomon urged INEC to avoid repeating the “lingering crisis of confidence” from the 2024 governorship election, which they said was marred by irregularities.

They called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resist “militarizing” the process and demanded the state governor publicly commit to peaceful polls.

‘INEC under pressure’

ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark appealed to INEC to ensure a transparent process that could restore public trust.

He described the party as a “child of necessity” positioned to offer Nigerians an alternative and urged security agencies to guarantee a level playing field.

“All eyes are on the commission to correct past errors that have tarnished its image,” he said, advising supporters to comply with electoral laws but remain vigilant against intimidation.

INEC’s challenge is not only to deliver a credible result but to do so under heightened political tension and intense scrutiny from parties, civil society, and voters alike.

With the polls taking place in politically volatile states like Kano, Kaduna, and Edo, Saturday’s contests could shape the tone for the 2027 general elections, observers have noted.

As the clock ticks towards Saturday’s polls, all three political blocs, the APC, PDP and ADC-led coalition, are leaving nothing to chance. With campaign rallies drawing large crowds and social media buzzing with election-related content, analysts noted that the contests are shaping up to be more than just a routine electoral exercise.

They believe the outcome will not only fill vacant legislative seats but also serve as a litmus test for the three major political parties, signalling the direction of Nigeria’s political winds. (Daily Trust)