INEC INCLUDES SDP CANDIDATES IN SATURDAY BY-ELECTIONS AFTER COURT RULING
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By: Sefiu Ajape
The Independent National Electoral Commission has confirmed that candidates of the Social Democratic Party will now participate in the by-elections scheduled for Saturday, August 16, 2025, across 12 states.
This follows a ruling by the Federal High Court directing the Commission to recognise the party’s inclusion in the polls.
The announcement was made on Friday in an official statement by INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun.
INEC explained that the SDP was initially excluded from the elections because it did not submit a valid notice for the conduct of primaries, preventing the Commission from monitoring the process as stipulated by law.
“The commission has been served with the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1525/2025.
“In the judgment, the Commission was ordered to include the Social Democratic Party and its candidates in the by-elections in 12 States of the Federation.
“The party did not earlier submit a valid notice for the conduct of primaries for the bye-elections. For this reason, they were not monitored by the commission.
“However, in compliance with the judgment, the names of the candidates submitted manually have been accepted and published on our website. The party will participate in the by-elections,” Olumekun said.
Despite the last-minute court ruling, INEC assured voters that the elections would proceed as planned.
“The commission wishes to assure the public, especially voters in the 12 States, that the 11th-hour judgement will not affect the election which will proceed tomorrow, Saturday 16th August 2025 as scheduled,” Olumekun affirmed.
He added that while INEC would comply with the court order, it reserves the right to challenge the ruling through appropriate legal channels.
“Meanwhile, the commission will exercise its legitimate right of appeal under the law,” he stated.
The commission has completed arrangements for Saturday’s by-elections in 16 constituencies across 12 states, even as political parties and candidates intensified campaigns ahead of the close of political activities at midnight on Thursday.
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