By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
ABUJA — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of candidates contesting the June 20, 2026, bye-elections scheduled to fill vacant legislative seats across six states of the federation.
The elections, which will hold alongside the Ekiti State governorship poll, will cover four senatorial districts, one House of Representatives constituency and one State House of Assembly constituency.
According to the list made public by the electoral commission on Monday, candidates from various political parties will battle for seats in Ondo South, Nasarawa North, Rivers South East and Enugu North Senatorial Districts, as well as the Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency of Kano State and the Zuru State Constituency in Kebbi State.
In Ondo South Senatorial District, four candidates were cleared for the race. They are Adesanya Olaoluwa of the Action Peoples Party (APP), Dr. Francis Adedayo Faduyile of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Akinwumi Adeolu Harrison of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and Nejo Funso Clement of the Boot Party (BP).
The Nasarawa North Senatorial District contest will feature Halilu Danladi Envwulu-Aza of the APC, former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku of the Labour Party (LP), John Paul Araneshri of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and Emmanuel David Ombugadu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
For Rivers South East Senatorial District, Douglas Fabeeke Beeka of the Action Alliance (AA), Osarosaka Ebenezer Erewari of the APC, Sam Kinanee Barikpoa of the LP and Nwogu Olaka Johnson of the PDP emerged as candidates.
Three candidates will contest the Enugu North Senatorial District seat. They are Asogwa Ikeje Israel of the APC, Aneke Kingsley Chukwuebuka of the Boot Party and Ezeme Nestor Chika of the PDP.
In Kebbi State, Garba Aiki Rabiu of the APC and Aliyu Galadima Muhammad of the LP will vie for the vacant Zuru Constituency seat in the State House of Assembly.
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Similarly, Rabiu Shuaibu of the APC, Lawan Garba Haruna of the APM and Abubakar Yahaya Muhammad of the LP will contest the Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency seat in Kano State.
The Merit Newspaper reports that the bye-elections became necessary following a combination of deaths, resignation and appointments involving previous office holders.
In Ondo State, the vacancy arose after Senator Jimoh Ibrahim was appointed Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. The Rivers South East seat became vacant following the death of Senator Barinada Mpigi, while the death of Senator Godiya Akwashika created a vacancy in Nasarawa North.
Similarly, the Enugu North Senatorial seat became vacant after the death of Senator Okey Ezea. Vacancies in Kano and Kebbi also necessitated fresh polls in the affected constituencies.
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With less than two weeks to the exercise, political parties are expected to intensify campaigns as INEC prepares to conduct multiple elections across the country on the same day.
The commission has urged stakeholders and political actors to adhere strictly to the electoral timetable and guidelines to ensure peaceful and credible polls.
