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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Saturday, June 20, 2026, for the conduct of bye-elections in six states, even as it formally welcomed a newly sworn-in National Commissioner, Rear Admiral Jamila Malafa (retd), the commission announced Thursday.
INEC chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan disclosed this at a brief ceremony held at the INEC headquarters in Abuja to receive the new national commissioner, according to the commission’s bulletin.
He said the bye-elections will be conducted alongside the Ekiti State governorship election scheduled for the same date.
“We are going into some off-cycle elections very soon. The Ekiti State Governorship Election is scheduled for June 20, 2026. On the same date, the Commission will conduct bye-elections to fill vacant seats,” Amupitan said.
According to the chairman, the elections will cover senatorial vacancies in Enugu, Nasarawa, Rivers and Ondo States, as well as a State House of Assembly seat in Kebbi State and a House of Representatives seat in Kano State.
“The senatorial seats declared vacant in Enugu, Nasarawa, Rivers and Ondo States will be filled, alongside the Kebbi State House of Assembly seat and the House of Representatives seat in Kano State,” he added.
Speaking on the appointment of the new national commissioner, Amupitan described Rear Admiral Malafa (retd.) as a seasoned professional with extensive experience spanning military service and electoral operations.
He noted that she had previously worked with the commission in logistics and served as Director of Legal Services in the Nigerian Navy.
“Our responsibility is clear. We are committed to conducting elections into the offices of the President, National Assembly, Governors, State Houses of Assembly and Area Councils in a credible and transparent manner,” Amupitan said.
