By CHARLES CHIJIOKE
Nigeria’s electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has scheduled June 20, 2026, for a fresh round of by-elections to fill vacant legislative seats in six states, in a move that coincides with the already planned Ekiti governorship poll.
The announcement was made by INEC chairman, Joash Amupitan, during a ceremony at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, where Jamila Malafa was formally received as a newly sworn-in national commissioner.
Amupitan said the commission would conduct the by-elections on the same day as the Ekiti governorship election, noting that the exercise would address vacancies in both the National Assembly and state legislatures.
“We are going into some off-cycle elections very soon. The Ekiti state governorship election is scheduled for June 20, 2026. On the same date, the commission will conduct by-elections to fill vacant seats,” he said.
“The senatorial seats declared vacant in Enugu, Nasarawa, Rivers and Ondo states will be filled, alongside the Kebbi state house of assembly seat and the house of representatives seat in Kano state.”
According to INEC, the affected constituencies span four senatorial districts in Enugu State, Nasarawa State, Rivers State and Ondo State, as well as a state assembly seat in Kebbi State and a federal constituency in Kano State.
The INEC chairman also used the occasion to highlight the credentials of Malafa, describing her as a seasoned administrator with a background in military service and electoral logistics. He noted her prior role in the commission and her experience as director of legal services in the Nigerian Navy.
“Our responsibility is clear. We are committed to conducting elections into the offices of the president, national assembly, governors, state houses of assembly and area councils in a credible and transparent manner,” Amupitan said.
In her response, Malafa expressed gratitude for her appointment and pledged to contribute to the commission’s mandate.
“I’m glad to be here and I thank you for the warm reception. I look forward to working with everyone for the development and stability of our country, and for the success of forthcoming elections,” she said.
The decision to align the by-elections with the Ekiti governorship poll is seen as a cost-saving and logistical strategy by INEC, potentially improving voter turnout while reducing operational expenses. However, it also raises the stakes for political parties, which must now mobilise simultaneously across multiple states and electoral levels.
The vacancies prompting the by-elections are understood to have arisen from a mix of resignations, deaths, and judicial outcomes, reflecting ongoing political shifts within the affected states. Observers say the outcomes could alter the balance of representation in the National Assembly and test the preparedness of INEC ahead of future nationwide elections.
