The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is facing a major hurdle in its plans to conduct by-elections to fill 16 vacant seats in the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly.
INEC Funding constraints have stalled the process, leaving millions of Nigerians without representation in the legislative arm of government.
The 16 vacant seats include two senatorial seats and five House of Representatives seats. The vacancies arose from various reasons, including resignations, deaths, and appointments to executive positions. The affected states include Edo, Oyo, Kaduna, Jigawa, and Ogun.
The Nigerian Constitution requires INEC to conduct by-elections within one month of a vacancy. However, the funding constraints have made it impossible for the commission to meet this deadline. Section 76(2) of the Constitution states that “the Commission shall conduct a by-election to fill the vacancy within one month of the occurrence of the vacancy.”
INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has explained that the commission requires significant funding to conduct these elections. The funding is needed to cover personnel costs, operational activities, and the replacement of damaged materials. However, the commission’s budget for 2025 is still pending before the National Assembly.
INEC has proposed a budget of N126 billion for 2025, a significant increase from the N40 billion allocated in 2024. However, the commission is still waiting for the approval of the National Assembly. The delay in approving the budget has further complicated the commission’s plans to conduct the by-elections.
The delay in conducting the by-elections has serious consequences for the affected constituencies. Millions of Nigerians are being denied representation in the legislative arm of government, which is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution. The delay also undermines the credibility of the electoral process and erodes public trust in INEC.
Lawmakers have reacted angrily to the delay in conducting the by-elections. The Senate has passed a resolution directing INEC to hold elections into the two vacant seats in the Red Chamber. The House of Representatives has also resolved to investigate the delay in conducting by-elections.
The funding constraints facing INEC are a major setback for Nigeria’s democracy. The delay in conducting by-elections undermines the credibility of the electoral process and denies millions of Nigerians representation in the legislative arm of government. It is imperative that the National Assembly approves INEC’s budget for 2025 to enable the commission to conduct the by-elections and restore the democratic rights of the affected constituencies.