INEC Seeks Legal Reform to Cut By-Election Costs

Kehinde Fajobi

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called for amendments to the electoral law to establish more cost-effective alternatives for filling vacancies in national and state assemblies.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made this appeal during a consultative meeting with political parties on Wednesday in Abuja, urging stakeholders to advocate for legislative reforms.

“We have been appealing to stakeholders, including political parties, to join the advocacy for the national assembly to amend the law for a more cost-effective alternative, as practiced in many jurisdictions worldwide,” Yakubu said.

He revealed that since the inauguration of the current assemblies in June 2023, 23 vacancies have occurred due to the death of serving members or voluntary resignations for executive positions at federal, state, and local government levels.

Some members, he added, resigned after being appointed as ministers, commissioners, local government chairpersons, or board executives.

“While the commission conducted nine by-elections early last year, 14 more vacancies have occurred since then,” Yakubu said.

“These by-elections are unpredictable, unbudgeted for, and difficult to plan in advance.”

He highlighted how some by-elections create a cycle of additional polls.

“There are situations where a by-election in one senatorial district was won by a serving member of the House of Representatives from the same district, thereby creating another vacancy.

“In turn, a member of the state assembly won the by-election to the House of Representatives, leading to another vacancy in the state assembly. Consequently, one by-election led to three by-elections,” he explained.

Yakubu emphasised that the cost of these elections and their impact on INEC’s broader electoral duties underscore the need for legislative reform to ensure a more efficient process.