On August 16, 2025, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will once again organize bye-elections across the country to fill vacant seats in the Senate, House of Representatives, and various State Houses of Assembly. While elections are an integral part of any democracy, the frequency and pattern of bye-elections in Nigeria raise a troubling question: Why do we keep having so many?
A closer look reveals a disturbing trend. Most of these legislative vacancies are not due to death, health issues, or resignation for the public good. Instead, they are the result of elected officials abandoning their current positions mid-tenure to contest for what they consider “higher” offices. Upon winning such elections, they leave their existing legislative seats vacant, forcing the nation into yet another round of elections—each costing the country billions in scarce resources.
This recurring cycle has created an unsustainable burden on Nigeria’s public finances, administrative systems, and electoral institutions. It is also morally indefensible. While schools remain underfunded, hospitals lack basic equipment, and citizens struggle with rising costs of living, national funds are repeatedly channelled into unnecessary elections caused by the ambitions of a few.
The Root of the Problem
The problem is structural and behavioural. Structurally, no law currently compels elected officeholders to resign their positions before contesting for another. This legal loophole allows elected officials to hedge their political bets —keeping their current office as a backup while pursuing a new one. If they lose, they retain their post. If they win, a bye-election is triggered.
Behaviourally, this practice reflects a troubling culture of political greed and opportunism, where the electoral mandate is treated as a personal asset, not a public trust. Elected representatives should be focused on delivering the promises for which they were voted into office, not constantly plotting their next political move.
The Cost to the Nation
Each bye-election costs the nation billions of naira—resources that could be used to provide infrastructure, pay salaries, improve security, and support education or healthcare. INEC has consistently warned about the cost implications of repeated bye-elections, yet the cycle continues.
More dangerously, this practice undermines the credibility of the democratic process, weakens institutional memory in legislative houses, and robs constituents of the stable representation they deserve.
What Must Be Done?
1. Enact Legislative Reform
The National Assembly should pass a binding law requiring that any elected official seeking to contest another elective office must first resign from their current position. This is the standard in many democracies and will prevent the abuse of office and endless election cycles. While this reform is urgently needed, it cannot take effect before the August 16 elections due to the time legislative processes typically require.
2. Promote Citizens’ Advocacy
Nigerians must rise in civic consciousness and demand an end to this exploitative practice. Civil society groups, media, youth organizations, and professional bodies must raise their voices and press for change. The people must insist that public office is not a stepping stone to personal ambition, but a platform for service and accountability.
3. Hold Political Parties and Delegates Accountable
With the August 16 elections drawing near, the most immediate solution lies with political parties and their delegates. These parties should screen out sitting lawmakers who attempt to abandon their mandates for other elective offices. Party delegates, who are also citizens, must refuse to nominate or vote for such aspirants during primaries.
This is not a partisan issue. It is a national emergency. If the political class will not self-regulate, then delegates and citizens must take responsibility by rejecting those who put their personal ambitions above the national interest.
Conclusion
As the August 16 bye-elections approach, Nigerians must reflect deeply on the unsustainable cost of political opportunism. We cannot continue to fund the ambitions of a few at the expense of national development. A public office should not be a revolving door, nor should it be a means to perpetuate personal political advancement.
It is time to end the cycle. Let political parties take bold action. Let citizens demand integrity. And let the National Assembly begin the process of enshrining responsibility into law.
Only then can we protect our democracy from waste, restore the dignity of public office, and begin to build a truly accountable political system.
