INEC Urges Media to Apply for Accreditation Ahead of August Bye-Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a fresh call to media organisations and journalists to apply for accreditation to cover the upcoming bye-elections scheduled for Saturday, 16 August 2025.

In a statement released on Wednesday, 23 July 2025, the Commission disclosed that since the opening of its online accreditation portal on Tuesday, 8 July 2025, only 12 applications—covering 91 media personnel—have been received. The figure, according to INEC, falls significantly below expectations.

INEC emphasised that the portal—https://imap.inecnigeria.org—will remain open until 12:00 a.m. on Thursday, 31 July 2025. After the deadline, the portal will automatically shut down, and no late applications will be considered.

“The Commission urges interested media organisations—print, broadcast, and online—to take advantage of the remaining window,” said Mrs. Victoria Eta-Messi, INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity.

Reiterating the critical role of the media in the electoral process, INEC noted that professional and responsible coverage is essential to promoting transparency, public confidence, and democratic consolidation.

“Let us work together to deepen public trust through timely, balanced, and professional reporting of the electoral process,” the statement read.

For further information, media organisations and practitioners are advised to contact INEC via 07088844564 or 08032861058.