The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to conduct by-elections to fill the vacant seats of four National Assembly members who passed away in 2024. These by-elections are scheduled to take place following the upcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states, set for September 21 and November 16, respectively.
Since the inauguration of the 10th Assembly in June 2023, the Assembly has lost four members: Isa Dogonyaro, Ekene Adams, Musiliudeen Akinremi, and Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.
Dogonyaro, an All Progressives Congress member representing the Garki/Babura Federal Constituency of Jigawa State in the House of Representatives, died on May 10, 2024, in Abuja after an undisclosed illness. Adams, a Labour Party member representing the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, passed away on July 16, 2024, at the age of 39. Akinremi, a two-term member representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency of Oyo State, died on July 10, 2024. Senator Ubah, who represented Anambra South, died in London on June 28, 2024.
Providing an update on the by-elections, Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, stated that the by-elections are likely to be conducted after the Edo and Ondo governorship elections. “Most likely, the by-elections to fill the vacant seats would be after the Edo and Ondo governorship elections,” Oyekanmi said.
Earlier this year, on February 3, by-elections were held in nine constituencies to fill seats vacated by the demise or resignation of members elected during the 2023 general elections, affecting both the national and state Houses of Assembly.
