The Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday said that by-elections would take place in 27 states of the federation on Saturday.
INEC�s Commissioner in charge of Publicity, Mr. Phillip Umeadi Jr., said this while briefing the media in Abuja on preparations for the elections.
He also denied claims that tons of ballot papers meant for last week�s presidential election were left in South Africa to starve some states.
The states where the by-elections will hold include Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo and Ekiti.
Others are Enugu, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Ondo, Oyo, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba and Zamfara states.
The by-election in Imo State is for the governorship and some seats in the State House of Assembly.
The elections in the other 26 states are into the Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly.
The April 14 governorship election in Imo State was cancelled following some irregularities.
The by-elections in other states became necessary as a result of the omission of the names and party logos of some candidates from the ballot papers.
Umeadi, who said all was set for the elections, urged Nigerians to come out en masse to vote.
He said the embattled Senator Ifeanyi Araraume remained the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for Imo State despite consistent request by the party that Chief Charles Ugwuh should replace him.
Umeadi said INEC had to adhere to an order of the Supreme Court, which affirmed Araraume as the rightful candidate of the party for the governorship election.
He said, �It is not true that we left ballot papers in South Africa. If we want to starve any state of ballot papers, we do not need to leave the items in South Africa when we know it will become public knowledge.
�We have a large store here so we would simply have left it in our store. But we have no such intention. We brought back all the ballot papers we printed. They all arrived in Nigeria on Friday and we distributed them all.�
The Lagos State Police Command has, however, announced a nine-hour restriction on movement in the state during the National Assembly by-elections on Saturday.
The restriction which starts at 8am and ends at 5pm is however applicable to vehicular movements only.
A statement by the command�s spokesman, Mr. Olubode Ojajuni, a superintendent of police, on Thursday said the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bashir Azeez, ordered the restriction in order to ensure a hitch-free election in the state.
The statement reads, �The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bashir Azeez, has ordered restriction of vehicles on Saturday, April 28, 2007 during the National Assembly elections in Lagos State.
�Those who may wish to move with vehicles from one point to another are advised to do so before 8 am. Lagosians are advised not to transverse with vehicles during the restriction period, which is from 8am to 5pm.
�The CP emphasises that the restriction is purely for vehicles and not for people as individuals are allowed to move within their localities freely.
�He appeals to Lagosians to obey this order to ensure a free and fair election on that day. The CP also thanks residents of Lagos for their maturity, understanding and cooperation during previous elections and hopes that same gesture will be demonstrated this weekend.�
A by-election will hold in two senatorial districts in the state, Lagos West and Central as well as seven federal constituencies.