Gladness Gideon
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately conduct bye-elections for two legislative seats that have remained vacant for over three months, citing a growing democratic vacuum in the affected constituencies.
Speaking in Benin City on Monday, Edo APC Chairman Jarret Tenebe issued a stern ultimatum to the electoral body, accusing it of foot-dragging and failing in its constitutional duty to ensure adequate representation for citizens in Edo Central Senatorial District and the Ovia North East/South West Federal Constituency.
“The people in these constituencies have been abandoned. For more than three months, they have lacked any form of federal legislative representation, which is a direct breach of their democratic rights,” Tenebe said in a strongly worded statement.
The vacancies resulted from the resignation of Senator Monday Okpebholo, who vacated his Edo Central senatorial seat to contest in the upcoming Edo State gubernatorial election, and Honourable Dennis Idahosa, who stepped down as a member of the House of Representatives for the Ovia North East/South West Federal Constituency.
Tenebe warned that INEC’s continued inaction not only disenfranchises constituents but also poses a serious threat to the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic system. He urged the Commission to prioritize the elections or consider transferring the responsibility to the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC), should logistical or financial constraints be the cause of the delay.
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“If INEC is unable or unwilling to fulfill its role, then it should officially delegate the task to EDSIEC. Democracy must not be put on hold because of institutional inertia,” he declared.
According to Tenebe, the current situation sends a troubling message to citizens across the country—that representation can be arbitrarily withheld without consequence.
“This sets a dangerous precedent,” he said. “It signals to the electorate that their voices can be silenced, their rights ignored, and their participation denied—all due to bureaucratic delay.”
Political observers suggest that the pressure from the APC may increase calls for INEC to clarify its timeline for bye-elections across the country, especially in states where key legislative seats remain unoccupied.
INEC has not yet issued an official response to Tenebe’s statement.