The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed compliance with a judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which directed the Commission to include candidates of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the bye-elections scheduled for Saturday, August 16, 2025.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee.
According to the statement, the court ruling mandated the inclusion of SDP and its candidates in the bye-elections taking place across 12 states of the federation.
Olumekun explained that the SDP candidates were initially excluded from the process due to the party’s failure to submit a valid notice for the conduct of primaries, which meant that INEC did not monitor the exercise as required by law.
However, following the court’s directive, INEC has now accepted the names of the party’s candidates and published them on its official website, confirming that the SDP will participate in the elections.
The Commission assured the public, particularly voters in the affected states, that the late court ruling would not disrupt the conduct of the elections, which will proceed as scheduled on Saturday.
Olumekun added that while INEC has complied with the judgment, it reserves the right to appeal in accordance with the law.
