The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Wednesday, August 21, 2025, for the conduct of a supplementary election in five polling units in the Kaura Namoda South State Constituency of Zamfara State.
This decision follows the cancellation of results in the affected polling units during the August 16 by-election due to reported irregularities.
Dr. Mahmmud Isah, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Zamfara State, made the announcement during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Gusau, the state capital, on Tuesday.
According to Dr. Isah, the supplementary election will be held in five polling units across two registration areas: Kyambarawa and Sakajiki wards. These areas were affected by the cancellations that led to the by-election being declared inconclusive.
He listed the specific polling units where fresh voting will take place. In Kyambarawa ward, the exercise will be held in:
-Shiyar Magaji (Kofar Hamza) 002
-Tukasu (Sabuwar Kasuwa) 009
– Kofar Fafa (Shiyar Fada)
In Sakajiki ward, the poll will be conducted in:
– Alko (Shiyar Kudu) 002
– Shiyar Nufawa (Kofar MD Nuhu) 007
The Kaura Namoda South State Constituency by-election was held on August 16, 2025. However, INEC declared the result inconclusive following the cancellation of votes from the five polling units mentioned.
The Returning Officer for the election, Professor Lawal Sa’adu from the Federal University Gusau, explained that the cancellation of results was due to irregularities that violated the Electoral Act.
Prof. Sa’adu stated that before the cancellations, the All Progressives Congress (APC) was leading with 7,001 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had 5,339 votes — a margin of 1,662 votes.
However, the total number of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collected in the five affected polling units was 3,265, which is significantly higher than the vote margin. Based on this, INEC concluded that the number of voters who could still cast their votes was enough to potentially change the outcome of the election.
This situation falls under the guidelines of Sections 24 (2 & 3), 47 (3), and 51 (2) of the Electoral Act 2022, which gives INEC the legal backing to declare an election inconclusive if the number of affected or cancelled votes is more than the margin between the top two candidates.
Dr. Isah urged all political parties, candidates, and their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully during the supplementary poll. He also called on community leaders in the affected areas to support INEC’s efforts by promoting peaceful participation and ensuring that voters come out to vote without fear.
“We appeal to all stakeholders to ensure that the exercise on August 21 is peaceful and transparent. We are fully committed to a free, fair, and credible process,” he said.
He assured voters and party agents that all sensitive and non-sensitive election materials would be properly handled and delivered on time. Security agencies, he added, would be fully mobilized to provide safety before, during, and after the supplementary polls.
According to INEC, 5,446 voters were registered in the two affected wards — Kyambarawa and Sakajiki — while 3,265 had collected their PVCs and are eligible to vote in the supplementary election.
Only those with valid PVCs will be allowed to participate, and the commission has warned against any form of electoral malpractice, including vote buying, ballot box snatching, or violence.
INEC has also advised party agents to stick strictly to their roles and avoid actions that could lead to the cancellation of results again.
The Kaura Namoda South State Constituency is witnessing a tight race between the APC and PDP. The APC’s current lead of 1,662 votes is not secure, considering the number of PVCs collected in the affected polling units.
If the PDP secures enough votes in the supplementary poll, it could still overtake the APC. Political analysts say the outcome will depend on voter turnout and how well both parties mobilize their supporters on August 21.
The by-election in Kaura Namoda South was necessitated by the death of the previous lawmaker representing the constituency. The seat became vacant, prompting INEC to schedule a new election in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
The August 16 by-election had attracted attention across the state, especially with rising political tension between the two major parties — APC and PDP who both see the seat as critical to their influence in the Zamfara State House of Assembly.
