Five federal constituencies across the nation are currently without representatives in the Nigerian House of Representatives.
New Telegraph- reports that these five seats became vacant following the death of four members and election of one as deputy governor.
Although Speaker Tajudeen Abbas has since declared the seats vacant and the House directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a by-election to fill the vacancies, the electoral has not been able to do so.
INEC is obligated under section 76(2) of the 2022 Electoral Act to conduct by-elections to fill the vacant positions and ensure proper representation of the affected constituencies.
The House of Representatives is made up of 360 members representing 360 federal constituencies across the nation but presently populated by 355 members only.
The five vacant constituencies include Babura/Garki federal constituency of Jigawa state, which was hitherto represented by Isa Dogonyaro until his death on 10 May 2024; Ibadan North federal constituency of Oyo state, which was represented by Olaide Akinremi until his death on July 10, 2024 and Chikun/Kajuru federal constituency of Kaduna state, which was represented by Hon. Ekene Adams until his death on 16 July 2024.
The rest are the Ovia federal constituency of Edo State, which was occupied by Dennis Idahosa, who was elected as deputy governor of Edo state in September 2024; and the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency of Ogun state, which was occupied by Oriyomi Onanuga, who died on 15 January 2025. Onanuga was the deputy chief whip of the House.
It will be recalled that on 18 February 2025, the House asked INEC to conduct bye-elections to fill vacant seats in national and state assemblies.
The House gave the directive after passing a motion sponsored by Jafaru Leko, the lawmaker representing Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa federal constituency of Bauchi State.
Leko had argued that “The continued vacancy of these seats without the holding of timely bye-elections is disenfranchisement of the people of the affected area and denies them the right to adequate representation.
“The delay in conducting the bye-elections for the vacant seats is a contravention of constitutional provision, a breach of the due process and denial of the affected constituencies’ proper representation.
“This electoral inaction from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) violates the principles of democracy and representative governance, leaving citizens unrepresented, and also obstructs legislative activities as committees and plenary sessions lack full participation from duly elected members.”
According to him, the inaction of INEC sets a “dangerous precedent” where compliance with the constitution and electoral laws becomes optional rather than mandatory.
