The Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) recommendation that political parties bar incumbent members from running in bye-elections has been rebutted by the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters.
Hon. Adebayo Balogun, the committee’s chairman, told Parliamentary Correspondents that there is currently no rule that prohibits current parliamentarians or political office holders from running for office again in a bye-election.
Hon. Balogun underlined that the Electoral Act does not support INEC’s recommendation, which is only a recommendation that parties are free to adopt or reject. He said that it would be unfair and undemocratic to prevent incumbent MPs from running for office in bye-elections.
The legislator also pointed out that it is typical practice to use current members to fill open seats. He gave the examples of Governor Diri Douye and his deputy in Bayelsa and Monday Okpebholo and his deputy in Edo State, who ran for and won elections while they were lawmakers.
He encouraged voters and political parties to think about running incumbent parliamentarians for high elected positions, particularly in bye-elections, because of their accumulated legislative expertise.
However, limiting anyone’s ability to run for office is not covered by our Electoral Act or anything else we are now discussing.
“And if I were to give you any advice, I would say that it’s even better to use current members who have experience in the sector because, if you’re talking about replacing a senator, you should look at a representative to do so.
there’s also regrettable that there was a by-election. Naturally, former House members often make up the majority of candidates for Senate seats after every season and every administration.
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That this occurred is regrettable because either people died or some resigned. However, we shouldn’t limit this possibility to just a select few. We ought to let everyone use it. Let whoever has the most votes win; this is a democracy.
That is the main goal of democracy. The number is the key. Therefore, we ought not to limit it. Additionally, because he is a technocrat, he might feel that I should conserve money.
But money isn’t the only topic of discussion when it comes to politics. Interest is the key. The people’s desires are at the center. Thus, in every senatorial district, federal constituency, and even throughout Nigeria, let the people’s will prevail.
It is counsel since, as I mentioned, it is not a part of our law. Therefore, you may either follow the suggestion if it suits you or you can ignore it.
“Advice is not enforceable. Furthermore, I doubt that anyone who has a candidate they wish to support will feel good about claiming that their candidate was illegally disqualified by the INEC Chairman.
Therefore, I counsel anyone considering running to pursue their goals and let the voters in their local district decide.
Therefore, I don’t believe that any party can or has included that in their legislation at this time, and I don’t believe that it will. Anybody being excluded on this grounds would be illegal. Therefore, that is my honest perspective,” he stated.
