Taraba: INEC Urged To Conduct By-election To Fill Vacant Constituency Seat

A human rights lawyer, Pius Danba Pius, has petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its failure to conduct by-election to fill the vacant seat of the Jalingo/Yorro/Zing federal constituency of Taraba State in the House of Representatives.

The House of Representatives’ seat became vacant following the death of Hon Ismaila Meihanchi, in April 2023 before the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly. Meihanchi died on Saturday, April 22, 2023, after he received his certificate of return from the INEC.

Pius, in a letter addressed to the INEC chairman and dated October 9, 2023, claimed that the commission had violated the constitutional provision that election to fill a vacant position must not exceed 30 days after the seat becomes vacant.

He also cited sections of the Electoral Act which provides a 21-day grace period.

The lawyer said while other Nigerians are represented in the House of Representatives, the people of Jalingo/Yorro/Zing are not for over 118 days and counting contrary to Section 76 (1) (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

Pius said, “It will interest you to know that from April 22, 2023 to June 13, 2023 is 52 days. It is also well over 170 days now since the death of Ismaila Meihanchi and the seat of the member representing Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency has been vacant since the inauguration of the House of Representatives on June 13, 2023.

“Elections to each House of the National Assembly shall be held on a date to be appointed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, in accordance with the Electoral Act, the date mentioned in sub-section (1) of this Section shall where the election is to fill a vacancy not later than 30 days after the vacancy occurred,” Pius stated.