TWO years into the 10th National Assembly, eight federal constituencies remain without representation following the deaths and resignations of lawmakers.
Despite constitutional provisions mandating timely bye-elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has 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.
The prolonged inaction has not gone unnoticed. Jarret Tenebe, Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, criticised INEC’s silence, stating, “This is against the spirit and letters of our constitution and democratic norms.”
He warned that if INEC lacks the logistical or financial means to act, it should consider “ceding the responsibility to the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission.”
Section 76(2) of the Nigerian Constitution mandates that bye-elections be conducted within 30 days after a vacancy is declared.
The Electoral Act 2022 further outlines how such elections should be conducted, even if not in a single consolidated section.
In November 2024, INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu promised that the Commission was working out modalities for the polls.
But since then, attention appears to have shifted toward the upcoming governorship elections in Ekiti, Osun, Ondo and Anambra, raising fears that these National Assembly seats could remain vacant indefinitely.
Sam Olumekun, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, recently assured that the Commission would announce dates “in due course.” Yet, no official timeline has been released.
Beyond the legal implications, the vacuum is hitting Nigerians where it hurts, representation.
With no elected lawmakers in the National Assembly, the constituents of these eight districts have effectively been cut out of legislative deliberations, committee meetings, and debates that could shape laws, budgets, and policies affecting their daily lives.
“This continued vacancy results in the disenfranchisement of the affected citizens,” said Hon. Jafaru Leko on the floor of the House, “which constitutes a violation of the constitutional principles of representation.”
Rotimi Oyekanmi, spokesperson to the INEC Chairman, 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.
As Nigeria moves closer to another round of off-cycle elections, the fate of eight federal constituencies remains uncertain.
The silence from INEC and the slow bureaucratic processes of the legislature continues to rob thousands of Nigerians of their democratic right to be represented.
Unless urgent action is taken, this democratic lapse could stretch into a third legislative year a dangerous precedent for a country still working to strengthen its electoral credibility.