INEC Swears In Six New RECs, Unveils Ekiti, Osun 2026 Poll Dates⁰

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Friday swore in six newly appointed Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), with a charge to uphold integrity, transparency, and adherence to the electoral legal framework.

Yakubu, who administered the oath at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, reminded the new RECs of their duty to abide by the code of conduct and INEC’s operational guidelines.

“As you assume or resume duty, you must at all times be guided by the electoral legal framework, the code of conduct for RECs, and the Commission’s regulations. Above all, act in good conscience and do not betray your oath of office,” he cautioned.

Among the newly sworn-in officials, Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem and Mukhtar Umar Gajiram were reappointed for a second term, while Sa’ad Umar Idris and Feyijimi Saseyi Ibiyemi are long-serving INEC staff. The remaining two, Chukwuemeka Christopher Ibeziako and Umar Yusuf Garba, join from the legal and private sectors respectively.

With their swearing-in, Yakubu noted that all REC vacancies across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory have now been filled.

The INEC chairman also used the occasion to announce the schedule for the 2026 governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States. The Ekiti election is set for Saturday, June 20, 2026, while Osun will go to the polls on Saturday, August 8, 2026.

For Ekiti, party primaries will run from October 20 to November 10, 2025, with the deadline for uploading nomination forms set for December 22, 2025. The final list of candidates will be published on January 18, 2026, and campaigns will begin on January 21, 2026.

In Osun, party primaries are scheduled from November 24 to December 15, 2025, with nomination forms due by February 9, 2026. The candidate list will be released on March 9, 2026, and campaigns will commence two days later.

Yakubu said the full timetable and schedule for both elections are available on INEC’s website and social media pages.

He also addressed public concern over pending bye-elections and the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), revealing that the number of pending bye-elections has risen to 17. Preparations, he said, are ongoing and updates will soon be made public, particularly in light of the upcoming Anambra governorship election.