South-East stakeholders defend INEC’s planned by-elections

By Jude Opara with agency report

Stakeholders across the South-East have defended the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) decision to conduct by-elections in vacant legislative seats despite the proximity of the 2027 general elections, arguing that the exercise is a constitutional obligation rather than a waste of public resources.
The stakeholders, drawn from Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi states, maintained that citizens whose representatives have vacated office should not be denied legislative representation simply because the tenure of the current administration is approaching its end.
INEC has scheduled by-elections to fill vacant senatorial seats in Enugu, Nasarawa, Rivers and Ondo states, alongside a House of Representatives seat in Kano and a State House of Assembly seat in Kebbi.
The commission will also conduct off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states.
Political analyst Bennet Edeh said the electoral body had little choice in the matter because the constitution requires vacant elective offices to be filled within a specified period.
According to him, while the elections may impose financial costs on the nation, the commission remains legally bound to organise them unless the law is amended.
“The conduct of by-elections is backed by the constitution, which mandates INEC to fill vacant elective positions within 90 days,” Edeh said.
The Chairman of the Public Affairs Analysts of Nigeria in Enugu State, Ambrose Igboke, also supported the exercise, insisting that affected constituencies are entitled to representation until the end of the current legislative term.
“People whose constituencies are affected should not stay without representation for one year. The inauguration of the next assembly will be in June 2027, and that is effectively one year away,” he said.
A former presidential candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA ) and ex-Anambra Chief Judge, Peter Umeadi, noted that institutions must operate within established laws and procedures, while political scientist Gerald Ezirim argued that even six months in office was enough time for elected representatives to make meaningful contributions.
Rights activist and lawyer Dan Ugwu described the planned elections as democratic and necessary, stressing that democracy does not permit a vacuum in representation.
However, some stakeholders questioned the wisdom of conducting elections so close to a general election. Awka-based lawyer Maxwell Ezeude argued that the exercise would place an unnecessary burden on public finances and suggested that affected constituencies wait until the 2027 polls.
Similarly, Chris Azor, President of the International Peace and Civic Responsibility Centre, said the timing of the by-elections raised concerns about cost-effectiveness and national priorities.
Several respondents called for constitutional and electoral reforms that would allow vacancies occurring within a year of a general election to be merged with the main polls, thereby reducing costs while maintaining democratic principles.
Despite the differing opinions, a majority of stakeholders surveyed agreed that under the current legal framework, INEC’s decision to proceed with the by-elections remains both lawful and necessary to guarantee representation for affected constituencies.