Months after the deaths of several federal lawmakers and the resignations of others, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has yet to conduct by-elections to fill the vacant positions at the National Assembly, leaving many constituencies without representation.
Affected residents have expressed frustration over the delay, accusing the electoral commission of failing to uphold democratic principles.
INEC, however, cites lack of funding as the primary obstacle and has promised to act once financial issues are resolved.
There are currently seven vacant seats in the National Assembly,vtwo in the Senate and five in the House of Representatives.
Five vacancies stem from the deaths of serving legislators, while two resulted from lawmakers assuming new executive positions at the state level.
Two seats in the Senate remain unoccupied following the death of Senator Ifeanyi Uba (APC, Anambra South) in London in September 2024, and the election of Senator Monday Okpebholo (APC, Edo Central) as Governor of Edo State on September 21, 2024.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has formally declared their seats vacant.
Similarly, five federal constituencies are currently without lawmakers:
Rep. Isa Dogonyaro (Garki/Babura, Jigawa) died in May 2024.
Rep. Olaide Akinremi (Ibadan North, Oyo) and Rep. Ekene Adams (Chikun/Kajuru, Kaduna) passed away separately in July 2024.
Rep. Adewunmi Onanuga (Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North, Ogun), Deputy Chief Whip, died in January 2025.
Dennis Idahosa vacated his Ovia Federal Constituency seat after being elected Deputy Governor of Edo State.
Following these deaths, the House of Representatives held a valedictory session in their honour, led by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
Residents of affected districts have voiced anger over the prolonged delay, especially in Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, where the death of Rep. Ekene Adams has left the community without representation for over a year.
Benjamin Yuhana Maigari, a community leader in Kajuru, said:
“By-election delay has left us feeling extremely bad and disfranchised because we don’t have a representative.”
“As a community, we are not happy with the government. We expected the election to be conducted within three to four months, but it has been over a year now.”
“Since his death, nothing has come from the federal legislature, no resources, no impact. We feel forgotten, neglected, and unrepresented.”
Similarly, Haruna Ibrahim Nasarawa of Chikun LGA added:
“It’s our right to have a representative in the House of Representatives through a by-election.”
“We are aware that if a lawmaker dies, a by-election is supposed to be held within 90 days. But in our case, it’s been over a year since Ekene Adams passed away, and still no election.”
Constituents from Edo Central Senatorial District and Ovia Federal Constituency have also decried the situation.
Aslem Ojezua, an APC member from Edo Central, said:
“The constitution and electoral act make provisions for time frame to conduct by-election into a vacant seat.
The implication of not conducting the election is that the district is not being represented at the National Assembly.”
Victor Edoro, former member of the Edo State House of Assembly, added:
“Edo Central is not being represented today. Where does the salary and the money for constituency projects for the district go to?
We have been deprived of representative dividend and the Esan people are not happy because as we speak, we don’t have a voice in Nigeria.”
Peter Agwele said “most of us are seeing this as a deliberate way of alienating us as a people. It is unfair.”
From Ovia Federal Constituency, Friday Aghedo, spokesperson to Deputy Governor Idahosa, said:
“We have lost voice at the House of Representative since Idahosa was elected the deputy governor.”
Dr. Jerry Osamede, another constituent, stated:
“It is 150 days now without quality representation of Ovia Federal Constituency. We are no longer getting the democratic dividend from the federal government.”
The PDP condemned the situation as harmful to democratic values.
Hilary Otsu, the PDP Secretary, said:
“It is regrettable because the governor was sworn-in eight months ago, yet the INEC couldn’t do the needful.”
The acting APC chairman in the state, Jarret Tenabe, said:
“The development is against the spirit and letters of our constitution and democratic norms.”
Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, told Daily Trust:
“INEC will conduct all outstanding by-elections in due course. We have been hampered by lack of funds. But we are confident that all funding issues will soon be resolved.”
However, internal sources at INEC also cited security challenges in some constituencies, raising concerns about the safety of election personnel.
Chief Chekwas Okorie, elder statesman and former presidential candidate, criticized INEC’s position:
“INEC is giving excuses that funds are not available to conduct those elections.
But this shouldn’t make INEC to renege on their statutory responsibility.”
The National Assembly should have called INEC to order because there are seats that are vacant in that Assembly and the constituents are not being represented.
“In other words, the constituents have been shut out by the behaviour of INEC, and there are several implications for what INEC is doing.”
Samson Itodo, Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, emphasized the importance of timely elections:
“Under Sections 76(2), 116(2), and 178(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), INEC is mandated to conduct by-elections once a formal declaration of vacancy is made by the presiding officer of the legislative house.”
“This situation highlights the need for both legal reforms and greater financial support for INEC. There should be clear guidelines and penalties for the timely declaration of vacancies…”
Prof. Chris Kwaja, political science expert, argued for a review of electoral law:
“We currently run a democracy that is liberal in theory and not in practice. The law must be reviewed in such a way that the power to declare seats vacant, in the case of defections, does not come from the presiding officers of the National Assembly.”
Political analyst Jackson Lekan Ojo condemned the delays outright:
“I wonder what has become of INEC. They are failing in their responsibilities. This is wrong.”
He urged the commission to resolve its funding challenges and restore citizens’ confidence through timely action.
