The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States will take place on Saturday, June 20, and Saturday, August 8, 2026, respectively
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the announcement on Friday during the swearing-in ceremony of six newly appointed Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), confirmed by the National Assembly.
Yakubu also revealed that the commission is finalising arrangements for bye-elections to fill 17 vacant seats in the National and State Houses of Assembly. He assured Nigerians that details on both the by-elections and the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) will be made public soon.
Timetable For Ekiti Election
According to the approved schedule, the Ekiti governorship election is set for June 20, 2026. Party primaries will be conducted from October 20 to November 10, 2025, while political parties are required to upload their nomination forms by 6:00 p.m. on December 22, 2025.
The final list of candidates will be published on January 18, 2026, and campaigns will officially commence on January 21, 2026, ending 24 hours before election day.
Yakubu explained, “In line with the requirements of the law, the commission is obligated to publish notices for major elections not later than 360 days before the scheduled date. In compliance with this, the timetable for Ekiti and Osun elections has been approved. The last governorship elections in these states were held in 2022, and the current tenures will expire next year.”
Osun Election Details
For Osun State, the election is scheduled for August 8, 2026. Party primaries will run from November 24 to December 15, 2025. The nomination portal closes at 6:00 p.m. on February 9, 2026, with the final list of candidates to be published on March 9, 2026.
Campaigning will begin on March 11 and will end 24 hours before the polls open.
Yakubu noted that the full timetable and schedule of activities for both elections have been uploaded to INEC’s official website and social media platforms to guide political parties and the general public.
Redeployment Of Resident Electoral Commissioners
The INEC chairman also announced the redeployment of six RECs across the country. The new postings include:
- Sa’ad Idris – Gombe
- Johnson Sinikiem – Cross River
- Feyijimi Ibiyemi – Ogun
- Mukhtar Gajiram – Taraba
- Chukwuemeka Ibeziako – Abia
- Umar Garba – Sokoto
He clarified that the redeployment is a routine administrative exercise and may occur again as necessary.
“With the swearing-in of the six RECs today, all vacancies in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory have now been filled,” Yakubu said. “You must be guided by the electoral legal framework and the code of conduct for RECs. Uphold your oath of office, engage stakeholders regularly, and be open to constructive criticism.”
New RECs Pledge Integrity
Speaking on behalf of the newly appointed commissioners, Sa’ad Idris pledged their commitment to uphold the constitution, the Electoral Act, and INEC’s guidelines.
“We are fully aware that the credibility of elections depends not just on systems, but on the integrity of those who manage them,” Idris said. “We pledge to discharge our duties with utmost integrity, impartiality, and professionalism, and to ensure that every vote counts in our respective areas of deployment.”
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