By Kingsley Okoye
Abuja, May 15, 2026 (NAN) A don, Dr Lawrence Odeh, says the by-elections scheduled for June 20 by INEC to fill the five vacant National Assembly seats is a necessary and constitutional step toward upholding democratic representation.
Odeh, of Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Benson Idahosa University, Benin, Edo, stated this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.
Odeh, while responding to concerns on the by-elections which is just six months to the general election, said it aligns with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2026.
According to him, the laws mandate a by-election to fill any legislative vacancy arising before the end of a four-year statutory tenure due to death, resignation, recall or other incidental occurrences.
“The constitution and the Electoral Act are clear that democratic election is the only legitimate means of filling a vacant legislative position.
“Where a seat becomes vacant before the expiration of a four-year term, a by-election is the prescribed remedy,” he said.
The don noted that with the next general elections slated for January 2027, denying the affected constituents legislative representation for over six months would amount to political exclusion and injustice.
“From now till January 2027, the Senate will deliberate on critical national policies and legislation.
“To leave an entire senatorial district or federal constituency without representation during this period is to silence the voices of those constituents in national decision-making,” he said.
Odeh emphasised that a political party cannot unilaterally replace a lawmaker whose seat became vacant before the end of his/her tenure.
According to the scholar, while political parties have the privilege to field candidates for legislative positions, once elected, such candidates become public officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Upon taking the oath of office, a lawmaker ceases to be merely a party representative and becomes a representative of the entire constituency and the nation, with loyalty to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
The replacement of such a position, he said, must be determined by public authorities through the National Assembly leadership and INEC, and not by the internal decision of any political party.
Odeh urged all stakeholders to support INEC in ensuring a free, fair and credible process, stressing that timely representation was essential for effective governance and inclusive policy formulation.
He said that failure to conduct the by-elections would amount to illegality and deny the constituents their right to participate in national policy deliberations.(NAN)