APC, Labour, NNPP Reject Internal Replacements, Call For Transparent INEC Conducted Bye-ElectionsMajor political parties in Nigeria have reiterated their call for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to continue conducting bye-elections to fill legislative vacancies resulting from resignations or deaths, rejecting a proposal by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, advocating for internal party replacements.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Falana argued that electoral votes belong to political parties, empowering them to decide replacements for their representatives who resign or pass away.

However, the Labour Party (LP) and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) insist that INEC is better suited to manage these elections, citing global democratic standards.

Despite concerns from INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu about the financial and logistical burden of bye-elections, LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, emphasized that bypassing elections could undermine grassroots representation. He stated, “Democracy is all about representing the people. People must have a say in who stands in for them.”

NNPP’s National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, also rejected Falana’s proposal, describing it as inappropriate.

In contrast, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supports Falana’s suggestion, with its Deputy Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, asserting that allowing parties to fill vacancies could alleviate INEC’s financial strain.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) took a more cautious stance, calling for broader consultations. APC’s National Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim, noted, “Under democracy, things should be done according to the wishes of the majority. This issue should be thrown for wider deliberation and debate.”

INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu previously highlighted the challenges posed by bye-elections, noting that since the current legislative assembly began in 2023, 23 vacancies had emerged, necessitating costly, unpredictable elections. He urged legislative reforms to adopt more cost-effective solutions, citing international best practices.

Speaking during a consultative meeting with political party leaders in Abuja on Wednesday, Yakubu said, “Over the last one and a half years since the inauguration of the current national and state Assemblies in June 2023, vacancies have occurred in 23 constituencies due to deaths or resignations. The commission has conducted nine bye-elections early last year, with 14 more vacancies emerging since then. These elections are unpredictable, costly, and divert the commission’s focus from broader electoral duties.”

Despite INEC’s concerns, LP’s Ifoh maintained that the commission could reduce costs using existing materials like card readers and digital platforms. He warned that allowing parties to fill vacancies could lead to candidates who lack grassroots support, compromising democracy’s core principles.

Speaking with The PUNCH on the way forward on Wednesday, Labour Party’s Ifoh said, “In most democracies, when there are vacancies, bye-elections are conducted. Democracy is about representing the people. Allowing parties to unilaterally fill vacancies may result in candidates who do not resonate with the grassroots.”