News reports that the elections will be conducted in Kebbi, Kano, Ondo, Rivers, Nasarawa, and Enugu States.

The exercise will cover four senatorial seats, one House of Representatives seat, and one State House of Assembly seat.

In Ondo State, the vacancy arose after Senator Jimoh Ibrahim left the chamber to serve as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

In Rivers State, the seat became vacant following the death of Senator Barinada Mpigi, while in Nasarawa State, the passing of Senator Godiya Akwashika created another vacancy. In Enugu State, the seat was left empty after the death of Senator Okey Ezea.

Kano State will also conduct a House of Representatives election, while Kebbi State will hold a poll to fill a vacant seat in its State House of Assembly.

INEC also fixed the same date for the Ekiti State governorship election, meaning multiple electoral activities will take place nationwide on that day.

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, announced the timetable during the swearing-in ceremony of a new National Commissioner, Rear Admiral Jamila Malafa (rtd.).

He noted that the commission is preparing for a busy electoral schedule, confirming that both the Ekiti governorship election and the bye-elections will hold simultaneously on June 20, 2026, across the affected areas.

The NBA chairmen had alleged that their efforts to engage Governor Alex Otti and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna, SAN, on resolving the strike were ignored, alongside other complaints.

However, responding on Thursday in Umuahia, the state government said it had already made significant progress in resolving the dispute, noting that most of the contentious issues raised by the judiciary workers had been addressed.

This position was made known by the Director General of the Strategic Communication Bureau, Onyebuchi Ememanka, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma.

The government also argued that the NBA’s stance was based on outdated or incomplete information regarding the status of negotiations with the judiciary workers’ union.

Ememanka explained that one of the major issues that triggered the strike was the demand for leave allowance, stressing that the government maintained that workers on consolidated salaries already have leave provisions embedded in their pay structure.

He added that during negotiations, even JUSUN officials reportedly confirmed that the government’s position on the matter was correct.

On the issue of financial autonomy for the judiciary, the government maintained that there is already substantial compliance in Abia State, noting that the Chief Judge oversees the allocation of funds within the judiciary.

It further explained that key administrative functions such as employment, promotion, payment of salaries, and retirement of judiciary staff are handled by the Abia State Judiciary Service Commission, not the executive arm.

The government also rejected claims that Governor Otti and the Attorney-General snubbed a proposed courtesy visit by the NBA chairmen, describing the allegation as inaccurate.