Eight federal constituencies in the National Assembly have remained without representation following the deaths and resignations of lawmakers.
Despite constitutional provisions mandating timely bye-elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to fill these vacancies, a delay that has triggered growing frustration among civil society groups, political observers, and the affected constituents.
Since the Assembly’s inauguration in June 2023, six lawmakers, five from the House of Representatives and one senator, have died.
Two additional seats became vacant following the resignations of lawmakers who contested and won in the 2024 Edo State governorship election, bringing the total number of unrepresented districts to eight.
The late lawmakers include Oriyomi Onanuga (Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North, Ogun), who died in January 2025; Abdulkadir Jelani Danbuga (Isa/Sabon Birni, Sokoto), who passed in October 2023; Isa Dogonyaro (Garki/Babura, Jigawa) in May 2024; Ekene Adams (Chikun/Kajuru, Kaduna) and Olaide Akinremi (Ibadan North, Oyo), both of whom died in July 2024.
In the Senate, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah (Anambra South) died in July 2024 in the United Kingdom.
Monday Okpebholo and Dennis Idahosa vacated their seats after winning the gubernatorial and deputy gubernatorial elections in Edo State, respectively.
Though both Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas have formally declared the seats vacant, INEC has yet to announce any dates for bye-elections.
Spokesperson to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, told BusinessDay that funding shortfalls are partly responsible.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is willing and ready to conduct all bye-elections when they fall due. In the current situation, a lack of funds is responsible for the delay,” he said.
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