On Saturday August 16, 2025, Nigerians in different parts of the country went to the polls as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted a series of elections to fill vacant seats in the National Assembly and state legislatures.

The seats became vacant after a mix of resignations, deaths, and court-ordered reruns following disputes from the 2023 general elections.

The elections include two senatorial districts, in Anambra and Edo, five federal constituencies across Ogun, Jigawa, Kaduna, Oyo, and Edo, and nine state assembly constituencies spread across Adamawa, Anambra, Kano, Kaduna, Kogi, Niger, Taraba, and Zamfara. Two additional reruns were ordered in Enugu South I and Gh ari/Tsanyawa in Kano, where earlier polls were either cancelled or disrupted.

Altogether, more than 3.5 million voters are registered to take part. The process cuts across 32 local government areas, over 350 wards, and nearly 7,000 polling units, with INEC deploying about 30,000 officials to manage the vote.

Security has been one of the main talking points. The Inspector-General of Police ordered heavy deployment across the affected states and banned VIPs from moving around with escorts or armed aides near polling stations. A restriction of movement from midnight until 6pm was also enforced in most areas to reduce the risk of violence and ballot disruption.

In Edo State, nearly 8,000 police officers were on duty, with security checkpoints mounted across senatorial zones. In Kano, security was even tighter following recent arrests of suspected political thugs. Authorities moved quickly to prevent any clashes at polling stations. Kaduna, Ogun, and Taraba also witnessed increased deployments, with local police and civil defence officers stationed at voting centres.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) added another 20,000 personnel nationwide to support the police, making today one of the most heavily policed by-elections in recent memory.

The elections did not come without political drama.

A late-night ruling by a Federal High Court allowed the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to field candidates after initially being barred by INEC over disputes from its primaries. The judgment forced INEC to adjust its list at the last minute, though the commission has said it will appeal.

In Kaduna, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the SDP accused the state government of plotting to tilt the process in its favour, a claim the authorities denied. Meanwhile, uncertainty still surrounds the Labour Party’s participation, with legal battles still ongoing in some constituencies.

Reports On Ground

Turnout has so far varied by location. In some polling units in Oyo and Anambra, early reports suggested low voter turnout, though the atmosphere remained peaceful. In Edo Central, voters complained about slow accreditation due to BVAS machines, while in Anambra South, Governor Charles Soludo commended residents for keeping the exercise calm and orderly.

INEC has assured Nigerians that results will be uploaded to its IReV portal once voting closes, usually between 3pm and 4pm, to ensure transparency.

Comfort Emmanson, the young woman who became the center of attention after her clash with airline staff on an Ibom Air flight, has received an unexpected turn of fortune. A Nigerian businessman, known as Oga Uby, has offered her a brand-new iPhone 16 Pro Max along with a four-year brand ambassador contract under his logistics company, Tubex Logistics.

The announcement drew reactions online, not only because of the high-end gadget but also because it symbolized support at a time when Comfort has been in the eye of controversy. Uby explained that the gift was to replace her lost phone and to give her a fresh start, while the contract would provide her with steady income and recognition as the face of his company.

Comfort’s story had earlier taken a dramatic turn when videos of her refusing to switch off her phone on a flight went viral. The situation escalated into a physical altercation with the crew, leading to her removal from the aircraft and a stint in detention. The case quickly divided public opinion, some condemned her actions while others felt she was unfairly treated.

The matter gained even more attention when Ibom Air slammed her with a lifetime ban, a decision that was later overturned after pressure from the Minister of Aviation and growing public sympathy. Her eventual release brought relief, but the saga left her in the spotlight as one of the most talked-about passengers in recent times.

Now, Oga Uby’s intervention has shifted the narrative. Social media users have praised the businessman for stepping in, with many describing his gesture as a reminder that a person’s lowest moment doesn’t have to define their future. Comfort herself expressed gratitude, calling the gesture more than she ever expected and thanking him for believing in her despite the backlash.

Social commentator Martins Otse, better known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has once again dragged the Dangote Group into the spotlight after yet another accident involving one of the company’s trucks. This time, the victim is a 22-year-old graduate, Precious Olurotimi, who had her hand amputated after a crash that has now sparked anger and calls for justice online.

VDM, in a strongly worded video, accused the company of turning a blind eye to the reckless behavior of its drivers. According to him, Precious, a fresh graduate of FUNAAB, had her dreams cut short because of negligence. He alleged that representatives of Dangote Group once visited her after the incident, took photos, and never returned to follow up or offer real help.

This new revelation comes only weeks after another heartbreaking case, one that involved the younger sister of reality TV star Phyna. She was also hit by a Dangote truck, a crash that led to the amputation of one leg and placed the other at serious risk. That incident generated massive public outrage, with celebrities like Kate Henshaw and VDM himself demanding justice for the victim and accountability from the company.

For many Nigerians, these repeated stories have become too familiar.

Dangote trucks have gained a reputation for accidents on highways, with critics accusing the company of putting untrained or overworked drivers behind the wheel. Social media users flooded VDM’s page with comments, some expressing heartbreak over Precious’s situation and others pointing to a long pattern of similar tragedies.

One user wrote, “Dangote trucks and accidents are like twins.” Another added, “This happens to many people, but only those who get loud enough manage to find justice.”

The growing outrage has put fresh pressure on Dangote Group to respond more responsibly, not just with words but with actions. Beyond calls for compensation, Nigerians are asking whether the company will finally confront what many see as a culture of recklessness among its drivers.