Abuja – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is proceeding with by‑elections to fill vacant National Assembly seats, a move confirmed by political scientist Prof. Abubakar Oladeji, head of the Political and Governance Policy Department at the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER). Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, Prof. Oladeji said the commission’s actions are fully consistent with constitutional requirements.
The by‑elections, scheduled for 20 June, are intended to address vacancies created by the death, resignation or removal of members of the National Assembly. Under the Constitution, any such vacancy must be filled through a by‑election; appointments cannot replace the mandated electoral process. “A by‑election is an election in exigency – it is required when a seat becomes vacant and the people of that constituency must not be left unrepresented,” Oladeji explained.
He stressed that INEC is acting within its legal mandate, rejecting suggestions that the commission could simply ask voters to replace former office‑holders without a formal poll. “The Constitution provides a clear procedure: when a vacancy is declared, only a by‑election can fill it. Anything else would be arbitrary,” he said.
While acknowledging concerns that the June by‑elections occur relatively close to the general elections slated for January 2027, Oladeji argued that it is preferable to hold the votes late rather than not at all. “If INEC conducts the by‑elections, it satisfies the constitutional duty to ensure representation for every constituency,” he noted. He added that the legislators elected in these contests will serve only a short term before the next general election, but that short tenure is preferable to a period without elected representation.
The commission’s decision underscores the importance placed on maintaining full legislative representation throughout the current parliamentary cycle. Observers note that the by‑elections will test INEC’s capacity to organise credible polls on a compressed timetable while upholding the standards expected of Nigeria’s electoral body.
As the June vote approaches, all eyes will be on INEC’s logistics and the parties contesting the seats, with the broader implication that the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic processes depends on adhering to constitutional directives, even when timing is tight.
