Nigeria’s electoral body has fixed June 20, 2026, for a series of high-stakes bye-elections to fill vacant legislative seats across six states, in a move that coincides with a key governorship poll.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the date for the elections in Nigeria, which will cover vacant positions in Kebbi, Kano, Ondo, Rivers, Nasarawa and Enugu states.
Four senatorial seats will be contested following a mix of appointments and deaths that created the vacancies. In Ondo State, the seat was vacated by Jimoh Ibrahim after his appointment as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. In Rivers State, Barinada Mpigi’s death left the position open, while similar circumstances followed in Nasarawa State with the passing of Godiya Akwashika, and in Enugu State after the death of Okey Ezea.
In addition to the senatorial contests, voters will elect a new member of the House of Representatives in Kano State, as well as a representative for a vacant seat in the Kebbi State House of Assembly.
INEC said the bye-elections will take place on the same day as the Ekiti State Governorship Election, an alignment that could heighten political activity and voter turnout across the affected regions.
The announcement was made by INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan during the swearing-in ceremony of a new National Commissioner, Jamila Malafa, a retired rear admiral.
“We are going into some off-cycle elections very soon,” Amupitan said. “On the same date, the Commission will conduct bye-elections to fill vacant seats.”
The polls are expected to test party strength at both state and federal levels, as political actors prepare for a tightly contested electoral exercise across multiple regions.
