The Nigeria Police Force has announced the restrictions of movements in some parts of Enugu, Nasarawa, Rivers, Ondo, Kebbi, and Kano for the 2026 by-elections.
On Thursday, the Independent National Electoral Commission distributed sensitive documents for the June 20, 2026 by-elections in Enugu, Nasarawa, Rivers, Ondo, Kebbi, and Kano.
The distribution comes after the police declared limitations on movement in the impacted states and constituencies.
The by-elections will take place concurrently with the Ekiti State governorship election, which is planned for the same date.
According to INEC, the by-elections will fill 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.
On Thursday, INEC began the distribution of sensitive materials for the Rivers South-East Senatorial District.
The four participating parties in the poll, the Action Alliance, the All Progressives Congress, the Labour Party, and the Peoples Democratic Party, evaluated the sensitive electoral materials.
Remember that the by-election is to replace the vacancy caused by Senator Barry Mpigi’s death.
The senator died in a London hospital in February.
The sensitive materials were inspected at the Central Bank of Nigeria’s zonal offices in Port Harcourt in the presence of party members, in accordance with electoral transparency rules, after INEC officials received them.
During the exercise, Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner Johnson Sinikiem announced that 858,573 registered voters were expected to participate in the election across 1,629 polling units.
Sinikiem added that the purpose of the operation was to review and distribute ballot papers and result sheets for the Rivers South East Senatorial District by-election to ensure transparency before they were sent to the various local government areas and registration area centers.
The Enugu State Police Command has issued a restriction on both people and vehicular movements ahead of the Enugu North Senatorial District by-election on Saturday.
The restriction, which will last from 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on election day, is intended to ensure a calm, orderly, and credible electoral process in the impacted areas.
SP Daniel Ndukwe, the state command’s police public relations officer, stated on Thursday that the limitation will apply to the six local government areas that comprise the senatorial zone.
The following councils are affected: Igbo-Etiti, Igbo-Eze North, Igbo-Eze South, Nsukka, Udenu, and Uzo-Uwani.
Ndukwe did, however, clarify that electoral officials and individuals performing verifiable vital activities were excluded from the mobility ban.
According to the statement, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, State Commissioner of Police, assured residents of maximum security following the deployment of large reinforcements ordered by Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu.
The election would take place in the Nasarawa North Senatorial District.
Senator Godiya Akwashiki died after a protracted illness, leaving the seat vacant.
