INEC announces date to present certificates of return to by-election winners

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

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

According to him, in line with Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, the presentation for federal lawmakers will take place on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at the Commission’s national headquarters in Abuja.

Those expected to receive certificates include the Senators-elect for Anambra South and Edo Central Senatorial Districts, as well as five newly elected members of the House of Representatives from Ovie North East and Ovie South West (Edo), Babura/Garki (Jigawa), Chikun/Kajuru (Kaduna), Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North (Ogun), and Ibadan North (Oyo).

For state constituencies, Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) will handle presentations on Friday, August 22, 2025, in the respective states. Benefiting 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).

INEC confirmed successful declarations in two senatorial districts, five federal constituencies, and eight state constituencies.

However, the election for Kaura Namoda South State Constituency in Zamfara State was declared inconclusive after violence disrupted voting in five polling units across two wards. With 3,572 registered voters affected—3,265 of whom had collected PVCs—and a margin of lead of 1,662 votes, the Commission ordered a supplementary poll for Thursday, August 21, 2025.

Meanwhile, INEC confirmed the conclusion of two re-run elections earlier nullified by tribunals. Ngene Bright Emeka (Labour Party) emerged winner in Enugu South 1 State Constituency, while Ya’u Garba Gwarmai (APC) was declared winner in Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency, Kano State.