BREAKING: Only APC, Labour Party Eligible — INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kebbi State has announced that only two political parties  the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP) will participate in the upcoming State House of Assembly by-election scheduled for June 20, 2026, in Zuru Local Government Area.

The announcement was made during a stakeholders’ meeting held on Wednesday by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Kebbi State, Abubakar Sarkin Pawa Dambo, who provided updates on preparations for the exercise.

According to him, political parties were given a window from May 22 to May 26, 2026, to conduct primaries and submit the names of their candidates in line with the provisions of Section 84 of the Electoral Act 2026.

However, only the APC and LP met all the requirements within the stipulated deadline, making them the only eligible parties cleared to contest the election.

“Consequently, only the two parties will participate in the by-election,” Dambo stated. He also directed that both parties must submit the list of their polling agents on or before June 10, 2026.

Campaign Timetable Released

INEC also confirmed the official timetable for the election process. Campaigns commenced on June 10 and are expected to end on June 18, ahead of the election day fixed for June 20.

The commission urged political actors to strictly adhere to the campaign schedule and maintain decorum throughout the electoral process.

Dambo further assured stakeholders that the election would be conducted using the existing voters’ register, adding that adequate arrangements had been made to ensure a smooth and credible exercise.

Electoral Preparations in Zuru Constituency

The by-election will be conducted across 10 wards in the constituency, including six wards within Zuru metropolis. A total of 200 polling units have been designated for the exercise.

INEC also disclosed that 109,292 registered voters are expected to participate in the election, while 822 ad hoc staff have been trained and deployed to manage voting and collation processes.

The commission appealed to voters, political parties, and community leaders to cooperate fully with electoral officials to ensure a peaceful and orderly process.

Background to the By-Election

The upcoming election was necessitated by the death of the former representative of the constituency, Usman Muhammad Zuru, who also served as Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly before his passing earlier in the year.

INEC reiterated its commitment to conducting a transparent, credible, and violence-free election, urging all stakeholders to play their part in safeguarding the integrity of the process.