673,446 register to vote in Ondo South senatorial bye-election — INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ondo State, has disclosed its readiness to conduct the Ondo South Senatorial District bye-election on Saturday, 20 June 2026 saying a total of 673,446 registered voters will be eligible to vote across the 1,354 polling units and 66 registration areas.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ briefing in Okitipupa, the senatorial headquarters of Ondo South, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mutiu Agboke, said the bye-election became necessary after Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, who was elected to represent Ondo South on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform in June 2023, was appointed Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Recall that the Senate declared the seat vacant on 28 April 2026 and directed INEC to fill the vacancy within 30 days in line with constitutional provisions. The Commission subsequently fixed 20 June for the bye-election, which will run concurrently with several other bye-elections across the country and the Ekiti State governorship election.

Agboke maintained that the decision complies with Sections 76, 77 and 132 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2026. He confirmed that the voter registers for the senatorial district covering six local government areas (Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo, Odigbo, Irele, Ilaje, Ese-Odo and Okitipupa) have been verified and cleaned.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner further informed stakeholders that a total of 673,446 registered voters will be eligible to vote across 1,354 polling units and 66 registration areas.

He also noted that the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise has not been concluded and that this will not affect the existing register to be used for the bye-election.

Agboke assured citizens of Ondo South that non-sensitive materials have been distributed to the six local government areas involved, while sensitive materials — including ballot papers and result forms (EC8A seriies) will be received shortly and distributed in the presence of political party representatives and security agencies.

The INEC boss also reported that 1,359 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines have been received, tested and certified, with 264 backup devices available for contingencies. He added that verified transport operators have been contracted to move personnel and materials to polling units ahead of the 8:30am opening time on election day.

Agboke emphasised the critical role of security, noting that the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) has been activated. Joint patrols and intelligence-led deployment plans will cover the six local government areas, with special arrangements for known flashpoints.

He, however, urged political actors and citizens to maintain peace, warning that anyone who attempts to disrupt the process will face the full weight of the law. He further appealed to party leaders, traditional and religious authorities and parents to help prevent violence.

“Four political parties will be contesting the 20 June senatorial bye-election and they are Dayo Faduyilemi (APC), Adeolu Akinwumi (APM), Adesanya Olaoluwa (APP) and Nejo Funso Clement (Boot Party). Political campaigning is scheduled to commence on 10 June and conclude on 18 June, in line with Section 98(1) of the Electoral Act 2026. Political parties are also required to submit candidate details under Sections 29(1) and 30(1) of the Act and to comply with campaign finance regulations and nothing will determine the winner of any election other than the votes of the people,” he said.