The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled Saturday, June 20, 2026, for bye-elections to fill vacant legislative seats across six states.
The elections will take place in Kebbi, Kano, Ondo, Rivers, Nasarawa and Enugu states, and will be conducted alongside the Ekiti State Governorship Election 2026 on the same date.
Four senatorial seats are up for grabs following a combination of appointments and deaths. In Ondo State, the seat became vacant after Jimoh Ibrahim was appointed Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. In Rivers, Nasarawa and Enugu states, the vacancies were caused by the deaths of Barinada Mpigi, Godiya Akwashika and Okey Ezea respectively.
INEC will also conduct a bye-election for a House of Representatives seat in Kano State and a State House of Assembly seat in Kebbi State.
Chairman of the Commission, Joash Amupitan, announced the timetable on Friday during the swearing-in of a new National Commissioner, Jamila Malafa (rtd.).
“We are going into some off-cycle elections very soon. The Ekiti State Governorship Election is scheduled for June 20, 2026. On the same date, the Commission will conduct bye-elections to fill vacant seats,” Amupitan said.
He added that the Commission would fill the vacant senatorial seats in Enugu, Nasarawa, Rivers and Ondo states, as well as the Kebbi State House of Assembly seat and the House of Representatives seat in Kano State.
ALSO READ: FG Clarifies BEA Scholarship Status in 2026 Budget, Says No New Awards Reinstated
The June 20 polls are expected to restore representation in the affected constituencies and add to the growing list of off-cycle elections in the country.
