INEC Unveils Election Timelines, CVR Resumption as IPAC Urges Trust in Nigeria’s Democracy
Maryam Aminu
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released key timelines and updates ahead of major elections in Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council polls and the Anambra State governorship election, while assuring stakeholders of its commitment to free, fair, and credible elections.
Speaking during the second quarterly consultative meeting with leaders of political parties in Abuja, INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed that political parties have until August 11, 2025, to upload candidate nominations for the FCT Area Council elections.
He warned that the online portal will shut down automatically at 6:00 p.m. on the deadline day.
Yakubu also announced that bye-elections will hold on August 16, 2025, in 16 constituencies across 12 states involving 3,553,659 registered voters, and that the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Anambra State will run from July 8 to July 17, 2025, ahead of the November 8 governorship election. “Party primaries for these bye-elections must be conducted between July 17 and July 21, while campaign activities will commence on August 2 and end on August 14,” Yakubu said. “Detailed schedules and constituency maps have been provided to all political parties and will be available on INEC platforms.”
He also confirmed that two re-run elections in Enugu and Kano states initially disrupted by violence will now be conducted alongside the bye-elections. Nationwide CVR will resume in phases from August 18 (online) and August 25 (in-person), across all 774 local government areas.
Yakubu raised concerns over the recurring denial of access to public facilities for opposition parties during campaigns, a violation of the Electoral Act. He vowed that INEC, in collaboration with the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), would explore legal action where necessary.
“Incumbents must not exploit state resources to deny other parties a level playing field,” he warned.
The INEC Chairman commended political parties for their consistent participation in consultative meetings, despite their tight schedules, and praised the Federal Government for supporting electoral reforms, including the ongoing construction of INEC’s new headquarters annex in Abuja.
In his response, National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Dr. Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, echoed the need to deepen Nigeria’s democracy by rebuilding public confidence in the electoral process.
He expressed concern over persistently low voter turnout in recent elections, attributing it to fear of violence, vote-rigging, and public disillusionment with unfulfilled campaign promises.
“This is unacceptable,” Dr. Dantalle said. “We must uphold the sanctity of the ballot box and ensure the will of the people is respected.”
He urged political parties to conduct transparent and credible primaries ahead of the FCT polls and avoid imposition of candidates. For the Anambra governorship election, Dantalle advocated for issue-based campaigns and a rejection of divisive or violent political tactics.
Dantalle also called on INEC to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) in managing elections, highlighting its potential in voter engagement, risk management, and preventing logistical failures.
He revealed that IPAC is considering adopting AI tools in party membership drives and voter education initiatives.
“When elections are free and fair, citizens will trust the process and willingly participate in nation-building,” he added.
Commending INEC’s technological innovations and infrastructural expansion, IPAC reiterated its support for institutional reforms that will fortify Nigeria’s democratic foundation.
“After 26 years of uninterrupted democracy, Nigerians deserve the dividends of good governance and accountable leadership,” Dantalle stated. “Together, we must protect and nurture our democracy for future generations.”
