Nigeria Weighs Replacing Costly By-Elections with Appointment Model

The Independent National Electoral Commission recently completed by-elections in four states to fill five legislative vacancies, a process that has increasingly drawn criticism for its high cost and logistical complexity. According to reports from GN auto geopolitics/africa: Nigeria elections, these recent polls in Gombe, Kano, Bauchi, and Delta are the latest in a series of supplementary elections that have strained national resources since the 2023 general elections.

As the frequency of these supplemental polls rises, a growing coalition of political observers and former officials is advocating for a constitutional amendment. They argue that Nigeria should adopt a model similar to that used in the United States, where governors appoint replacements for vacant legislative seats until the next general election, thereby avoiding the expense and disruption of holding separate votes.

Vacancies driven by death and defection

The five seats filled in the most recent cycle became vacant under varied circumstances, highlighting the unpredictability of legislative turnover. In Gombe and Bauchi, vacancies arose due to the deaths of incumbent lawmakers, while in Delta, a member was declared out of office after switching political affiliations from the All Progressives Congress to the Nigeria Democratic Congress.

In Kano, a state assembly member left to contest a federal constituency seat and subsequently won, leaving the state seat empty. These examples illustrate how individual career moves and unforeseen events can trigger a cascade of electoral requirements, forcing the commission to organize multiple voting events in a short period.

Financial strain and logistical challenges

Former INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has previously warned that by-elections are often unbudgeted and difficult to plan, creating significant financial burdens for the state. He noted that these events carry risks to human life and can trigger additional by-elections when a member moves from one chamber to another, creating a chain reaction that further depletes resources.

Since February 2024, the commission has conducted multiple rounds of by-elections, including a large-scale exercise in August 2025 across twelve states. Critics argue that the billions of naira spent on these unpredictable events could be better utilized for other national priorities, especially when the outcome is often determined by party dynamics rather than broad public engagement.

Proposed shift to appointment model

Advocates for reform suggest that, given the requirement for party sponsorship in Nigerian elections, the sponsoring party should be permitted to appoint a replacement when a vacancy occurs. This approach, they argue, would strengthen the party system, stabilize the legislature, and significantly reduce the cost of maintaining democratic representation.

The proposal mirrors the practice in 36 US states, where executives fill congressional vacancies without a new election. While this model is not universally applied in the US, supporters in Nigeria believe it offers a pragmatic solution to the current inefficiencies, allowing for continuity in governance while awaiting the next scheduled general election.