The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is carrying out by-elections and re-runs in 26 states today.
The elections are taking place in 80 Local Government Areas across 575 registration areas and 8,934 polling units. The 26 states conducting the by-elections and re-runs include Ebonyi, Yobe, Kebbi, Lagos, Ondo, Taraba, Benue, Borno, Kaduna, Plateau, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Cross River, Delta, Enugu, Jigawa, Katsina, Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Kano, Nasarawa, Niger, Oyo, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
According to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, 4,904,627 million people registered to vote in these elections, while 4,613,291 million people collected their permanent voter cards (PVCs).
By-elections are being held in nine states for two senatorial seats, four House of Representatives seats, and three state Houses of Assembly seats as a result of deaths or resignations.
Additionally, re-runs are being held in one senatorial seat, 11 federal and 22 state constituencies as a result of court orders. President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, resigned to take up an appointment in the Tinubu administration. The by-election will determine who will replace him in that position. Similarly, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Works David Umahi, Minister of Police Affairs Ibrahim Geidam, and Minister of State for Education Tanko Sununu all resigned, and their positions will also be decided in by-elections.
By-elections are also being held to fill the seats of Isma’ila Maihanchi and Abdulkadir Danbuga, who died before taking office as members of the National Assembly. Maihanchi was from Taraba State, and Danbuga was from Sokoto.