By Deborah Nnamdi
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the Ekiti and Osun State governorship elections for June 20 and August 8, 2026, respectively.
This announcement was made by INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, during the swearing-in and deployment ceremony of six newly appointed Resident Electoral Commissioners held on Friday at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
According to Prof. Yakubu, the Commission approved the election timetable and schedule of activities in accordance with legal provisions. He emphasized that, by law, INEC is required to publish notices for major elections no later than 360 days before the scheduled date.
He also noted that the last governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun took place in June and July 2022, respectively, and that the current governors’ four-year tenures will conclude in 2026.
For Ekiti State, the governorship election is set for Saturday, June 20, 2026. Party primaries will be held between October 20 and November 10, 2025. Yakubu added that political parties must upload their nomination forms to INEC’s dedicated portal, which will automatically close at 6:00 p.m. on December 22, 2025—no later than 180 days before the election date.
“The final list of candidates will be published on Jan. 18, 2026 while campaign in public by political parties will commence on Jan. 21, and end 24 hours to the election day.
“In the case of Osun, the election will be held on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
“Party primaries will start from Nov. 24 and end on Dec. 15. The portal for the upload of nomination forms by political parties closes at 6.00pm on Feb. 9, 2026, not later than 180 days before the election.
“The final list of candidates will be published on March 9, 2026 while campaign in public by political parties will commence on March 11, 2026 and end 24 hours to election day,” he said.
Yakubu said the detailed timetable and schedule of activities for the two elections had been uploaded to the INEC website and social media platforms for the guidance of political parties and public information.
He also assured Nigerians of INEC’s readiness to conduct pending bye-elections and resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) nationwide.
“The commission is aware of the concerns expressed by many Nigerians about pending bye-elections and the resumption of the CVR nationwide.
“The number of bye-elections has now risen to 17.
“We are aware of the urgency to commence the CVR, particularly in view of the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra.
“We want to assure Nigerians that we are finalising our preparations for both activities, the details of which will soon be made public,” Yakubu said.
