INEC presents certificates of return to by-election winners Thursday, Friday

By Lateef Ibrahim

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed that it will present Certificates of Return to winners of the last Saturday’s by-elections across the country on Thursday, August 21, 2025.

The revelation was made in Tuesday by the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Sam Olumekun, in Abuja.

The statement attributed the decision to present the certificates of return to the winners to the provision of Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act 2022.

Olumekun explained in the statement that the presentation of the certificates of return to Senators-elect and members of the House of Representatives-elect will take place at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja at 3:00 p.m.

According to him, those to receive their certificates include Senators-elect for Anambra South and Edo Central Senatorial Districts, as well as five members of the House of Representatives-elect from 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.

Olumekun stressed, however, that for state Houses of Assembly, Certificates of Return would be presented by the respective Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in state offices on Friday, August 22, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.

Another statement by Olumekun indicated that re-run elections, ordered by the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals, were conducted in Enugu and Kano states, adding that after previous disruptions of the elections in those two states by violence and thuggery, the elections have now been completed.

The INEC commissioner disclosed that, for the Enugu South 1 State Constituency of Enugu State, Ngene Bright Emeka of the Labour Party (LP) was declared the winner, while Ya’u Garba Gwarmai of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the election in the Ghan/Tsanyawa State Constituency of Kano State.

Olumekun said while results have been declared in most constituencies, the election in Kaura Namoda South Constituency of Zamfara State was declared inconclusive due to violence in five polling units.

He added: “By-elections were held in two Senatorial Districts, five Federal Constituencies and nine State Assembly Constituencies. Declaration and return have been made in two Senatorial Districts, five Federal Constituencies and eight State Assembly Constituencies.

“In spite of the prevailing security situation, 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 Voters 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, election must be held in the affected polling units to determine a winner. Consequently, the Commission has fixed Thursday August, 21, 2025 for election in the five polling units.”