The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the final list of candidates for the June 20, 2026, by-elections. These elections are scheduled to fill vacant legislative seats across six states of the federation.
Election Details
The by-elections will be conducted in four senatorial districts, one federal constituency, and one state constituency. Senatorial by-elections will take place in Ondo South, Nasarawa North, Rivers South East, and Enugu North. Voters in Kano's Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency will elect a new House of Representatives member. Additionally, a by-election will be held for the Zuru State Constituency seat in the Kebbi State House of Assembly.
Ondo South Senatorial District
Four candidates will contest the Ondo South Senatorial District seat: Adesanya Olaoluwa (Action Peoples Party, APP), Faduyile Francis Adedayo (All Progressives Congress, APC), Akinwumi Adeolu Harrison (Allied Peoples Movement, APM), and Nejo Funso Clement (Boot Party, BP).
Nasarawa North Senatorial District
Voters in Nasarawa North will choose among Halilu Danladi Envwulu-Aza (APC), Labaran Maku (Labour Party, LP), John Paul Araneshri (New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP), and Emmanuel David Ombugadu (Peoples Democratic Party, PDP).
Rivers South East Senatorial District
Candidates for Rivers South East are Douglas Fabeeke Beeka (Action Alliance, AA), Osarosaka Ebenezer Erewari (APC), Sam Kinanee Barikpoa (LP), and Nwogu Olaka Johnson (PDP).
Enugu North Senatorial District
Three parties made the final list for Enugu North: APC (Asogwa Ikeje Israel), Boot Party (Aneke Kingsley Chukwuebuka), and PDP (Ezeme Nestor Chika). The commission earlier stated that only parties meeting nomination requirements within the deadline were cleared.
Kebbi State House of Assembly (Zuru Constituency)
Garba Aiki Rabiu (APC) will face Aliyu Galadima Muhammad (LP) in the Zuru Constituency by-election.
Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency
The House of Representatives race in Kano will feature Rabiu Shuaibu (APC), Lawan Garba Haruna (APM), and Abubakar Yahaya Muhammad (LP).
INEC fixed June 20, 2026, for the by-elections to fill vacancies caused by deaths, resignations, and other developments affecting representation.
Labour Party Legal Challenge
Meanwhile, the Labour Party has initiated legal action at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging its alleged unlawful exclusion from the Enugu North Senatorial District by-election. The by-election was triggered by the death of late Senator Okey Ezea, who represented the district on the LP platform until his passing on November 18, 2025. National Publicity Secretary Ken Eluma Asogwa, in a statement, indicated that the party fully complied with INEC's timetable and guidelines, formally notifying the Commission on May 11, 2026, of its intention to conduct a senatorial primary election.
