The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is awaiting the disbursement of funds from the 2025 budget to address pending by-elections across Nigeria.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, expressed optimism that the increased funding in the 2025 budget will help the commission carry out these critical elections.
In a recent briefing to the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, Yakubu revealed that by-elections have been delayed due to inadequate funding, and the 2024 budget, which covered only personnel costs, did not account for such elections.
“The noticeable increase in the funds appropriated to the commission in the 2025 budget will enable us to promptly release a timetable and schedule of activities for the by-elections,” Yakubu stated.
Since February 2024, vacancies have been declared in 16 constituencies across 12 states, affecting over 3.5 million registered voters.
Yakubu stressed the importance of legislative reform to reduce the frequency and costs of these elections, which often arise from preventable causes such as death, resignation, and absenteeism.
“We need to create a more efficient and predictable process to ease the burden of frequent by-elections,” Yakubu emphasized.
As soon as the 2025 Appropriation Bill is passed and cash-backed, INEC is ready to move forward with plans for elections in two senatorial, five federal, and nine state constituencies.