INEC Urges Political Parties to Field Fresh Candidates for Bye-Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged political parties to nominate fresh candidates for bye-elections into state and federal legislative positions to reduce recurring vacancies.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the appeal during the commission’s first quarterly meeting with political parties in 2025.

He revealed that since the inauguration of the current national and state assemblies in June 2023, 23 constituencies have witnessed vacancies, necessitating multiple bye-elections.

Prof. Yakubu noted that the commission conducted nine bye-elections last year, with an additional 14 vacancies occurring since then.

He described bye-elections as “unpredictable, unbudgeted, and difficult to plan in advance,” adding that some elections create a cycle of new vacancies.

Citing examples, Yakubu said:

“There were situations where the bye-election in one senatorial district was won by a member of the House of Representatives from the same district, creating another vacancy. Similarly, a State Assembly member won a bye-election to the House of Representatives, leaving a vacancy in the State Assembly. Consequently, one bye-election led to three bye-elections.”

He emphasized that bye-elections divert INEC’s attention from its broader electoral responsibilities.

Over the past nine years, Yakubu said the commission has consistently advocated for a cost-effective alternative to filling legislative vacancies, as practiced in other countries.

Yakubu also appealed to stakeholders, including political parties, to support amending the law to address the issue.

“Just three weeks ago, we reiterated this position during the defense of our 2025 budget before the joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives. We appeal to you, as leaders of political parties, to nominate fresh candidates for these bye-elections instead of serving members to avoid conducting multiple bye-elections for the same constituency,” he said.

The INEC chairman commended political parties for their cooperation during previous bye-elections and expressed hope for continued collaboration to ensure efficiency in managing electoral processes.