By-election: INEC to present certificates of return to winners, Thursday

The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), has said that certificates of return to winners of last weekend’s by-election and re-run polls across 12 states will be presented on Thursday.

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

According to Olumekun, the presentation for the National Assembly members-elect will take place at the INEC’s national headquarters, while newly elected state lawmakers will take place in the commission’s state offices.

The statement also revealed that the two re-run elections by order of the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals were held in Enugu and Kano states, which were previously disrupted by violence and thuggery, have now been concluded.

Olumekun said declaration and return were made by the returning officers, and for the Enugu South 1 State Constituency of Enugu, Ngene Bright Emeka of the Labour Party (LP) was declared winner, while Ya’u Garba Gwarmai of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the election in Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency of Kano.

“In compliance with the provision of Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, certificates of return will be presented to the Senators-elect for Anambra South and Edo Central Senatorial Districts, as well as the five members of House of Representatives-elect for Ovie North East and Ovie South West Federal Constituency of Edo State, Babura/Garki Federal Constituency of Jigawa State, Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency of Ogun State and Ibadan North Federal Constituency of Oyo State. The occasion will take place at the INEC National Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, 21st August 2025 at 3.00 pm.

“For State Houses of Assembly, the certificates of return will be presented to members-elect by the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in our State offices on Friday, 22nd August 2025 at 11.00 am. The constituencies are Ganye State Constituency of Adamawa State, Onitsha North 1 State Constituency of Anambra State, Basawa and Zaria/Kewaye State Constituencies of Kaduna State, Bagwai/Shanono and Ghari/Tsanyawa State constituencies of Kano State, Okura State Constituency of Kogi State, Munya State Constituency of Niger State and Karim Lamido 1 State Constituency of Taraba State.”

The INEC National Commissioner further disclosed that the Kaura Namoda South State Constituency of Zamfara election, which was declared inconclusive, would hold on Thursday.

“In spite of the prevailing security situation, an election was held in Kaura Namoda South State Constituency of Zamfara State. However, the Returning Officer reported that he was unable to make a declaration because of violence/emergency in five Polling Units across two Registration Areas/Wards with a total of 3,572 registered voters, out of which 3,265 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were collected by voters.

“The margin of lead was 1,662. Therefore, based on Section 24(3) and (4) of the Electoral Act 2022, an election must be held in the affected polling units to determine a winner. Consequently, the Commission has fixed Thursday, 21st August 2025, for the election in the five polling units,” he added