The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has raised concerns over the escalating costs and logistical challenges posed by the increasing frequency of by-elections across Nigeria.

Speaking during a consultative meeting with political party leaders in Abuja on Wednesday, Yakubu emphasised the need for legislative reforms to establish cost-effective methods of filling vacancies at the national and state assemblies.

This comes as human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), urged the commission to discontinue the conduct of by-elections, citing them as a wasteful expenditure. Falana argued that since votes belong to political parties, replacements for elected officials who vacate their positions should not necessitate by-elections.

While INEC conducted nine by-elections in 2024, another 14 vacancies have since emerged, straining the commission’s resources.

These by-elections are unpredictable, unbudgeted, and challenging to plan. Worse still, some by-elections trigger additional ones. For instance, a by-election for a senatorial seat vacated by a House of Representatives member leads to another by-election for the vacated House seat, which then requires a State Assembly replacement,” Yakubu explained.

He revealed that INEC has advocated for such changes since 2016 and renewed its appeal during its 2025 budget defense before the National Assembly. We are pleased that more Nigerians are joining the call for reform. Working together, we can improve and strengthen our electoral process,” he said.

The National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Yusuf Dantalle, underscored the need for credible elections to sustain Nigeria’s democracy.

He urged INEC to prioritize transparency and fairness, particularly in the upcoming Anambra State Governorship Election and the 2027 General Elections.

Globalpose.