By-elections are taking place today in 12 states across Nigeria, drawing intense national attention despite the fact that only 1.09 percent of the country’s 1,467 legislative seats are at stake. With two senatorial seats, five House of Representatives seats, and nine state assembly positions to be decided, the contests have become a litmus test for governors, party leaders, and influential political figures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Key political actors such as Edo Governor Monday Okpebholo, Anambra’s Charles Soludo, Oyo’s Seyi Makinde, Kaduna’s Uba Sani, Ogun’s Dapo Abiodun, former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, NNPP leader Rabiu Kwankwaso, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abass, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and new APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda are directly involved in the campaigns. Observers note that the outcome could either consolidate or weaken their influence in the build-up to 2027.
In Edo State, the battle centers on the Edo Central Senatorial District seat vacated by Governor Okpebholo and the Ovia Federal Constituency. Okpebholo, fresh from a controversial gubernatorial victory, is keen to prove the APC’s dominance by securing both seats. His main rivals are PDP candidate Prince Joe Okojie in Edo Central and PDP’s Aikpitanyi Johnny in Ovia Federal Constituency. The PDP, still bitter over its loss in last year’s governorship election, is eager to make a statement, while the ADC is fielding Hon. Sergius Ogun and Dr. Osayuki Asemota in the two contests. The PDP has, however, accused the APC of planning to manipulate the polls through inducements, result tampering, and violence.
In Anambra, the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah’s South Senatorial seat is the prize. APGA, led by Governor Soludo, is backing Emmanuel Nwachukwu, while APC is fielding Azuka Okwuosa. Peter Obi has thrown his support behind Donald Amamgbo of the ADC, angering Labour Party leaders who accuse him of abandoning his own party amid internal crises. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ruled that Soludo’s security outfits will not be allowed to participate in election duties, insisting that only federal security agencies can operate. To secure the process, Assistant Inspector-General Godwin Eze has been deployed to oversee policing during the exercise.
In Kaduna, Governor Uba Sani faces his toughest test yet. He is determined to hold onto the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, Zaria/Kewaye state constituency, and Basawa state assembly seat for the APC. His predecessor, El-Rufai, now aligned with opposition forces, is campaigning vigorously for ADC candidate Alex Adamu and others, signaling a deepening rift within the state’s political landscape. While El-Rufai mobilizes support, the official ADC leadership has rejected any alliance with other parties, creating tension within the opposition camp. Speaker Abass has also joined the campaign, leading a rally in Zaria and calling for victory to consolidate APC’s grip on the state.
In Ogun State, Governor Abiodun and PDP’s Ladi Adebutu are reviving their rivalry in the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency. The APC is backing Princess Sola Elegbeji, described by supporters as a political heir to Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s legacy, while Adebutu is backing PDP candidate Bolarinwa Oluwole. The contest is viewed as crucial for both camps in proving their strength ahead of 2027.
In Oyo, the Ibadan North Federal Constituency is the focal point. Governor Seyi Makinde, one of the PDP’s most prominent figures, faces a test of his political strength, while APC hopeful and Power Minister Bayo Adelabu seeks to show his relevance as he eyes the governorship in 2027.
Other battlegrounds include Kano, where Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin is pushing for APC victory in Shanono/Bagwai State Constituency against the NNPP’s dominance; Taraba, where the PDP and APC are fielding fresh faces in a violence-hit Karim Lamido Constituency; Niger, where APC, PDP, and ADC are locked in a tight race in Munya; and Jigawa, where 11 candidates are vying for the Babura/Garki House of Representatives seat. By-elections are also underway in Adamawa, Kogi, Zamfara, and Enugu, with court-ordered re-runs in some areas.
The Independent National Electoral Commission confirmed that 3.55 million voters across 32 local government areas, 356 wards, and nearly 7,000 polling units are eligible to participate. INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu assured Nigerians of full preparedness, with over 30,000 officials deployed nationwide. The commission also confirmed compliance with a Federal High Court ruling that ordered the inclusion of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidates in the contests.
To secure the polls, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has restricted vehicular movement in the affected areas from midnight to 6 p.m. today. Security aides to VIPs are barred from escorting principals to polling units, and state-owned vigilante groups are prohibited from participating in election security. Tactical units, mobile police, and senior officers have been deployed to enforce order.
Analysts say while the number of seats being contested is small, the political significance of today’s by-elections is immense. Victories in strategic constituencies could tilt the balance of power ahead of 2027, either reinforcing President Tinubu’s APC dominance or reviving the PDP’s confidence. For Soludo, Okpebholo, Makinde, Abiodun, and Sani, the results will be closely watched as a measure of their grassroots strength and ability to mobilize support in their respective states.
