- Safiu Kehinde
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Yakubu Mahmood, has decried the cost of running bye-elections as it called for the intervention of the National Assembly on law amendment.
Mahmood made the call at the consultative meeting with political parties held on Wednesday at the INEC Conference Room, Abuja.
In his remark, the INEC Chairman disclosed conducting nine bye-elections across the National and State Assemblies on account of deaths of serving members and voluntary resignation for executive positions.
This has, however, created 14 more vacancies with Mahmood describing the situation as unpredictable, unbudgeted, and difficult to plan in advance.
“Over the last one and a half years since the inauguration of the current National and State Assemblies in June 2023, vacancies have occurred in 23 constituencies as a result of death of serving members or their voluntary resignation for executive positions at Federal, State and even Local Government levels as Ministers, Commissioners, Chairman of a Local Government and even board appointment.
“While the Commission has conducted nine bye-elections early last year, 14 more vacancies have occurred since then. They are unpredictable, unbudgeted and difficult to plan in advance.
“Worse, some bye-elections lead to more bye-elections. There were situations where a bye-election in one Senatorial District was won by a serving member of the House of Representatives from the same District thereby creating another vacancy.
“In turn, a member of the State Assembly won the bye-election to the House of Representatives thereby creating a vacancy in the State Assembly. Consequently, one bye-election led to three bye-elections. Not only are these bye-elections costly, they also divert the Commission’s attention from its other extensive electoral responsibilities.
“Over the last nine years since 2016, the present Commission has been advocating for a more cost-effective alternative means of filling vacancies as is the case in many jurisdictions around the world.
“We have similarly been appealing to stakeholders, including political parties, to join the advocacy and for the National Assembly to amend the law accordingly.
“Just three weeks ago, we canvassed this position once again during the defence of our 2025 budget before the joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives at the National Assembly. We are glad that more Nigerians are now joining the advocacy.
“We hope that working together, we will continue to reform and improve on our electoral process.’ Mahmood said.
Meanwhile, the INEC boss reminded the political parties of the Anambra State governorship election which is slated to hold on the 8th of November 2025.
He, however, expressed that only few parties have submitted their schedule of activities for the election.
“You may recall that at our fourth regular consultative meeting held on Thursday 17th October last year, the Commission released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Anambra State Governorship election holding on Saturday 8th November 2025.
“Already, the Notice of Election has been published over two months ago as provided in the Timetable. The next activity is the conduct of primaries by political parties.
“May I remind leaders of political parties that primaries for the nomination of candidates for the Anambra State Governorship election begins in the next two months i.e. 20th March to 10th April 2025.
“You may similarly recall that at our last regular meeting, we agreed that you will forward your schedule of activities for the election to the Commission to enable us work together and plan better for the deployment of personnel and resources for the monitoring of your party primaries and campaign activities in order to avoid the last minute rush with the attendant inability to meet deadlines and unnecessarily dissipate our energy and lean resources.
“So far, only a few parties are in compliance. I urge those that have not done so to submit the details by the end of this week.” He said.
In compliance to the 2022 Electoral Act which required the Commission to issue notice of election 360 days before the date of election, Mahmood announced the Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory.
The election is slated to hold on the 21st of February 2026.