INEC To Issue Certificates Of Return To Bye-Election Winners

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to present Certificates of Return to winners of federal legislative seats in last Saturday’s bye-elections.

INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

“In line with Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, INEC will present Certificates of Return to Senators-elect for Anambra South and Edo Central Senatorial Districts, as well as the five newly elected members of the House of Representatives, on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at its national headquarters in Abuja.

“The constituencies include Ovie North East and Ovie South West (Edo State), Babura/Garki (Jigawa State), Chikun/Kajuru (Kaduna State), Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North (Ogun State), and Ibadan North (Oyo State),” Olumekun said.

According to INEC, Certificates of Return for state constituencies will be presented by Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in the respective states on Friday, August 22, 2025.

The affected constituencies include Ganye (Adamawa), Onitsha North 1 (Anambra), Basawa and Zaria/Kewaye (Kaduna), Bagwai/Shanono and Ghari/Tsanyawa (Kano), Okura (Kogi), Munya (Niger), and Karim Lamido 1 (Taraba).

Olumekun confirmed that declarations and returns were successfully made in two senatorial districts, all five federal constituencies, and eight of the state constituencies.

However, the election for Kaura Namoda South State Constituency in Zamfara State was declared inconclusive.

The Returning Officer reported that violence disrupted voting in five polling units across two wards, preventing a declaration. He said 3,572 registered voters were affected, with 3,265 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) already collected.

“Since the margin of lead was 1,662, less than the number of affected voters, the Commission invoked Section 24(3) and (4) of the Electoral Act 2022 to order a supplementary poll. The supplementary election has been fixed for Thursday, August 21, 2025, in the affected polling units,” he stated.

Meanwhile, INEC confirmed that the two re-run elections ordered by Election Petition Appeal Tribunals in Enugu and Kano states had been concluded after earlier disruptions by violence.

In Enugu South 1 State Constituency, Ngene Bright Emeka of the Labour Party (LP) emerged winner, while Ya’u Garba Gwarmai of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared winner in the Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency of Kano State.