APC, Labour Party, NNPP Insist INEC Conducts Bye-Elections, Oppose Internal Party Replacements

Major political parties in Nigeria have affirmed their support for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to continue conducting bye-elections to fill legislative vacancies caused by resignations or deaths, rejecting a proposal by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, that political parties should internally replace such vacancies.

Falana argued that since electoral votes belong to parties, they should decide replacements for their representatives who resign or pass away.

However, the Labour Party (LP) and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) insisted that INEC is best equipped to manage these elections, highlighting global democratic standards.

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

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

He emphasized that elections—bye or otherwise—are integral to democracy and should not be bypassed by allowing parties to make direct replacements.

In contrast, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) backed Falana’s suggestion, with its Deputy Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, asserting that permitting parties to fill vacancies would reduce INEC’s financial burden.

Abdullahi stated, “For me, I think political parties should be allowed to fill vacant positions. When this is permitted by our laws, it will save INEC from some expenses.”

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) opted for a more cautious approach, calling for broader consultations.

The party’s National Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim, remarked, “Under democracy, things should be done according to the wishes of the majority. This issue should be thrown for wider deliberation and debate. If INEC as the electoral umpire is complaining about the cost of conducting such an election and there are people making suggestions that parties should be empowered to fill the vacancies.

“I think the matter should be thrown to a wider consultation so that at the end of the day, the decision of the majority will carry the day. I think the challenge is not just on parties to fill in the vacancies or go for bye-elections. It is for them and INEC to do all it takes to get a winner in the first round, even if it means making the conditions more stringent.

“In the event of an election being conducted and there is no clear-cut winner, there should be alternatives like the second, third and fourth. That way the parties can brace up to ensure that they emerge victorious. Perhaps, we can be able to cut the cost of rerun and possibly all the shenanigans that will follow as a result of that.”

INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu had earlier 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 called for legislative reforms to adopt cost-effective solutions, citing international best practices.

Yakubu explained that over nine bye-elections were conducted in 2024, with 14 additional vacancies emerging since then.

He stressed the need for reforms to address the resource-intensive process, which often diverts the commission’s focus from broader electoral duties.

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 as a result of the death of serving members or their voluntary resignation for executive positions at the federal, state and even local government levels as ministers, commissioners, chairman of a local government and even board appointment.

“While the commission has conducted nine bye-elections early last year, 14 more vacancies have occurred since then. They are unpredictable, unbudgeted and difficult to plan in advance. Worse, some bye-elections lead to more bye-elections.

“Consequently, one bye-election led to three bye-elections. Not only are these bye-elections costly, they also divert the commission’s attention from its other extensive electoral responsibilities.

“We are glad that more Nigerians are now joining the advocacy. We hope that working together, we will continue to reform and improve our electoral process.”

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 unilaterally 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, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party said, “In most of the democracies when there are vacancies, bye-elections are conducted, and offices are replaced. The truth of the matter is that INEC does not need to spend a humongous amount of money to conduct bye-elections because most of the essential materials are already with them.

“I am talking about things like card readers, iRev and the rest of them. So, I don’t think there should be any shortcut to conducting bye-elections.

“You also know that the electorate who vote for political parties have an interest in the candidates who emerge victorious for the offices. But when you allow political parties to fill in or present just anybody, it is possible they will fill in a representative that does not resonate with the people at the grassroots.

“In that case, the position might go to the highest bidder instead of a proper representation. Democracy is all about representing the people. People must have a say in who stands in for them.”