By Atoyebi Nike
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a detailed schedule of elections for 2025 and 2026, including five major polls and the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise nationwide.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, unveiled the new timetable on Tuesday during the second quarterly consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja.
According to Yakubu, bye-elections across 12 states will hold on August 16, 2025, while the Anambra Governorship Election is scheduled for November 8, 2025.
Looking ahead to 2026, INEC fixed the FCT Area Council elections for February 21, the Ekiti Governorship poll for June 20, and the Osun Governorship election for August 8.
He also revealed that online pre-registration of voters will begin on August 18, 2025, with in-person registration at centres across the country to commence on August 25, 2025.
However, in preparation for the Anambra governorship election, CVR in the state will begin next week and take place simultaneously in all 326 wards, in line with the legal requirement to compile a fresh voters’ register at least 90 days before the poll.
During the meeting, the INEC Chairman welcomed two new National Commissioners Professor Sunday Aja and Abdulrazak Yusuf – and six recently sworn-in RECs.
Yakubu also urged RECs to be proactive in implementing policies and procedures without waiting for directives from the Commission’s headquarters.
