Time to Bid By-elections Farewell in Nigeria
The financial burden of conducting elections in Nigeria has necessitated calls for the National Assembly to amend relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution and adopt the United States model of
The financial strain of holding elections in Nigeria has prompted calls for the National Assembly to revise the 1999 Constitution and implement the United States model of appointing replacements for legislative vacancies, according to Davidson Iriekpen. On September 19, 2026, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) organized by-elections to fill five legislative vacancies in four states – Gombe, Kano, Bauchi, and Delta.
These seats were left vacant due to various reasons, including the deaths of lawmakers and members defecting to other political parties. Since the 2023 general election, INEC has conducted three sets of by-elections to fill vacant legislative seats across the nation, with a total of 41 by-elections held since then. Critics argue that these frequent by-elections are costly and pose logistical challenges, diverting resources away from other essential duties.
They suggest that Nigeria should follow the US model, where governors appoint replacements until a general election, which they believe would strengthen the party system and stabilize the legislature while reducing the overall cost of democracy.
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