INEC Fixes June 16-25 for Party Primaries in Restored State Constituencies in Delta, Others

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the schedule for political party primaries in several newly reinstated state constituencies across four states.

The primaries are slated to take place between June 16 and June 25, 2026, to enable parties to select candidates for the forthcoming 2027 general elections.

Among the affected State are the restored State Constituencies of Aniocha North II, Ika North East II, Sapele II, Ethiope West II, Warri South West II, and Warri North II in Delta State.

Similar arrangements are scheduled in Benue, Kogi, and Jigawa states, with specific constituencies including Nyamatsor, Ukum Afia, Konshisha III (Shangev-Tiev), Makurdi III (South East), and Gboko III State Constituencies in Bemue.

The Commission will also hold primaries in Kogi state – Adavi East, Eika, Ajaokuta North, Bassa-Komu, Dekina To wn & District, ljumu II, Kabba-Bunu II, Koton Karfe II, Igalao gwa, and Ogugu State Constituencies.

In Jigawa state, primary will be held for Aujara State Constituency.

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The development follows a court ruling ordering the reinstatement of certain constituencies that had been previously suppressed in Benue, Delta, Jigawa, and Kogi states.

INEC’s National Commissioner and Chair of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, confirmed the schedule in a statement issued Wednesday night.

He explained that the primaries are being organized to ensure that political parties can nominate candidates in these restored constituencies, contributing to a more inclusive electoral process for the 2027 elections.

Haruna emphasized that the exercise aligns with Nigeria’s Electoral Act and the powers vested in INEC by the Constitution.

Haruna also urged political parties to submit notices of their primaries to the commission ahead of the scheduled dates, stressing the importance of transparency and credibility in the process.

He assured the public that the commission remains committed to conducting free, fair, and transparent elections.

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According to the statement, “To facilitate the participation of the restored Constituencies in the 2027 General Election, particularly with respect to the nomination of candidates by Political Parties, the Commission has fixed the 16th-25th June, 2026 for the conduct of Political Party Primaries in the restored Constituencies.

“For the avoidance of doubt, all other timelines and activities contained in the already published revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election shall apply to the restored Constituencies.

“In light of the peculiar nature of this arrangement, Political Parties are requested to submit Notices of Political Party Primaries to the Commission prior to the scheduled date for the Primaries.

“The Commission remains committed to ensuring credible, inclusive and transparent electoral processes”.

All other timelines outlined in INEC’s revised schedule for the 2027 elections remain applicable to these restored constituencies, the statement concluded.

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