Vacant seats: Edo APC Chairman berates INEC over delayed by-elections

The Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarret Tenebe, has berated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), over its failure to conduct by-elections in to the two vacant legislative seats in the state.

Tenebe, who demanded for the immediate conduct of the bye-elections, volunteered that if INEC was financially handicapped to carry out the exercise, the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (ESIEC) would gladly take up the challenge and do the needful.

The two legislative seats, the Edo Central Senatorial seat and the Ovia Federal Constituency seat became vacant following the election of the erstwhile occupants, Senator Monday Okpebholo and Dennis Idahosa as governor and deputy governor of Edo State in September 2024.

In a statement released in Benin City, Tenebe expressed displeasure over what he described as an unjustifiable delay in filling the vacant seats, warning that the people of the affected constituencies had been left without representation for over three month, an action he said contravened democratic principles and electoral guidelines.

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“The people of Edo Central Senatorial District and Ovia North East/South West Federal Constituency have been without proper representation for three months now.

“This is against the spirit and letters of our constitution and democratic norms,” Tenebe stated.

Tenebe urged INEC to act swiftly conduct the bye-elections to fill the vacuums, adding that if the Commission lacked the financial capacity to organise the bye-elections, it should consider transferring the responsibility to the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC).

“If INEC is financially incapacitated or lacks the will to conduct these elections, then they should cede the responsibility to the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC). The people cannot continue to be denied their right to representation,” he said.

He stressed that the continued delay not only disenfranchised constituents but also undermined the integrity of the democratic process.

“This inaction sends a wrong message. It undermines the very essence of democracy, which thrives on representation and participation,” the APC chairman added.

 

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE