By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Independent National Electoral Commission has debunked reports that it has set a date for the by-elections to fill vacant seats in the National Assembly and some State Houses of Assembly.
“No date has been fixed yet for the by-elections. Soon hopefully,” said the Director of Voter Education and Publicity of INEC, Victoria Eta-Messi, in an interview with Sunday Punch.
Recall that the Senate had passed a resolution urging INEC to hold elections for the two vacant senatorial seats.
The two vacant senatorial seats are Edo Central, previously held by Senator Monday Okpebholo, who is now the Governor of Edo State, and Anambra South, which became vacant following the death of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.
Earlier in February, the House of Representatives directed its committee on Electoral Matters to summon INEC leadership to explain the reasons behind the delay in organising the polls.
Five seats are currently vacant in the Green Chamber, including Edo State’s Ovia North/South Federal Constituency, vacated by Denis Idahosa following his election as deputy governor.
The other four vacancies resulted from the deaths of Isa Dogonyaro (Garki/Babura, Jigawa), Ekene Abubakar Adams (Chikun/Kajuru, Kaduna), Olaide Akinremi (Ibadan North, Oyo), and Oriyomi Adewunmi Onanuga (Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North, Ogun).
