Abuja – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the official dates for the upcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, scheduled for June 20 and August 8, 2026, respectively.
Election Timeline Unveiled
INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu made the announcement Friday during a ceremony at the commission’s Abuja headquarters, where six newly appointed Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) were sworn into office.
The electoral body has outlined comprehensive timelines for both states, with party primaries set to begin months ahead of the actual elections.
Ekiti State Schedule
For Ekiti State, political parties will conduct their primaries between October 20 and November 10, 2025. The nomination portal will close at 6:00 PM on December 22, 2025—exactly 180 days before the election date.
The final candidate list will be published on January 18, 2026, with public campaigning authorized to commence three days later on January 21, 2026. Campaign activities must conclude 24 hours before election day.
Osun State Timeline
Osun State’s electoral process will follow a similar pattern, with party primaries scheduled from November 24 to December 15, 2025. Political parties must submit their nominations before the portal closes at 6:00 PM on February 9, 2026.
The state’s final candidate list will be published on March 9, 2026, with public campaigning permitted from March 11, 2026, until 24 hours before the August 8 election.
Context and Background
Both states last held governorship elections in 2022—Ekiti in June and Osun in July. The current governors’ four-year terms will expire in 2026, necessitating these upcoming elections.
Detailed timetables and activity schedules for both elections have been made available on INEC’s website and social media platforms for public access and political party guidance.
Pending Electoral Activities
Chairman Yakubu acknowledged growing public concern about 17 pending bye-elections nationwide and the resumption of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR). He emphasized the urgency of commencing CVR, particularly given Anambra State’s approaching governorship election.
“We want to assure Nigerians that we are finalizing our preparations for both activities, the details of which will soon be made public,” Yakubu stated.
New Leadership Appointments
The ceremony also marked the swearing-in of six newly appointed RECs:
- Dr. Sa’ad Umar Idris – assigned to Gombe State
- Dr. Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem – deployed to Cross River State
- Feyijimi Saseyi Ibiyemi – sent to Ogun State
- Mukhtar Umar Gajiram – assigned to Taraba State
- Chukwuemeka Christopher Ibeziako – deployed to Abia State
- Umar Yusuf Garba – assigned to Sokoto State
Charge to New Officials
In his address to the newly sworn RECs, Professor Yakubu emphasized their responsibility to uphold electoral integrity and maintain stakeholder engagement.
“You must at all times be guided by the electoral legal framework, the Code of Conduct for RECs, as well as the regulations and guidelines governing the Commission’s operations,” he instructed.
He further urged them to “act in good conscience” and avoid betraying their oath of office, while encouraging regular consultative meetings with stakeholders and openness to constructive criticism.
The appointments and election announcements signal INEC’s continued preparation for Nigeria’s democratic processes as the country approaches another crucial electoral cycle.
Reported by James Kwen from Abuja
