INEC Releases 2025–2026 Electoral Timetable

The Commission will conduct bye-elections in 12 states on August 16, 2025. This will be followed by the Anambra State Governorship Election, slated for November 8, 2025.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has unveiled a detailed electoral timetable for the years 2025 and 2026, outlining plans for five major elections and the nationwide resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

This announcement was made by the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, on Tuesday during the second quarterly consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), held at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

According to a statement released on INEC’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the Commission is preparing for an intense electoral period, with several critical elections scheduled to take place across various states of the federation.

Speaking during the meeting, Professor Yakubu disclosed the schedule of five major elections covered in the new timetable. The Commission will conduct bye-elections in 12 states on August 16, 2025. This will be followed by the Anambra State Governorship Election, slated for November 8, 2025.

Moving into 2026, three significant polls have also been scheduled:

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections on February 21, 2026

Ekiti State Governorship Election on June 20, 2026

Osun State Governorship Election on August 8, 2026


In addition to the election timetable, Professor Yakubu announced the nationwide resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise. The CVR will begin with online pre-registration starting from August 18, 2025, while in-person registration will follow on August 25, 2025.

However, due to the approaching governorship election in Anambra State, CVR in the state will commence earlier—next week—and will take place simultaneously in all 326 wards. This early start is to ensure the compilation of an updated voters’ register, as required by law, not later than 90 days before the election.

During the meeting, the INEC Chairman formally welcomed two newly appointed National Commissioners—Professor Sunday Aja and Abdulrazak Yusuf—along with six recently sworn-in Resident Electoral Commissioners who were attending the meeting for the first time.

Professor Yakubu emphasized the importance of the role played by RECs in electoral administration. He charged them to take the initiative in implementing policies and procedures without waiting for instructions from the Commission’s headquarters, noting that their responsibilities extend far beyond periods leading up to general elections.

“You are full-time Commissioners,” he said, “and your effectiveness depends on your level of knowledge and dedication.”

Professor Yakubu also addressed growing concerns about the interpretation of Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022, particularly regarding the review of election results. He revealed that the Commission is currently finalizing a supplementary set of regulations and guidelines to clarify the provision.

Once completed, the document will be made publicly available through INEC’s official platforms, possibly as early as this week.

The consultative meeting with RECs was held following extensive engagements with various stakeholders, including political parties, civil society organisations, the media, and security agencies involved in election management.

The aim, according to the Commission, is to tackle emerging issues and refine strategies for delivering more efficient, transparent, and credible elections in Nigeria.