Jarret Tenebe, the chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State, has requested that the Independent National Electoral Commission hold bye-elections to fill two of the state’s open legislative seats.
Tenebe said in a statement on Monday that the impacted communities have been without representation for more than three months due to the delay in filling the open seats in the Edo Central Senatorial and Ovia North East/South West Federal Constituencies.
He said, “The people of Edo Central Senatorial District and Ovia North East/South West Federal Constituency have been without proper representation for three months now. This is against the spirit and letters of our constitution and democratic norms.”
“I am issuing this ultimatum to the Independent National Electoral Commission and demanding the immediate conduct of bye-elections into the two vacant legislative seats in the state.”
Tenebe called on INEC to move quickly and suggested that the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission be given the task if the commission is unable to afford to hold the bye-elections.
“If INEC is financially incapacitated or lacks the will to conduct these elections, then they should cede the responsibility to the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC). The people cannot continue to be denied their right to representation,” he said.
He stressed that the continued delay not only disenfranchises constituents but also undermines the integrity of the democratic process.
“This inaction sends a wrong message. It undermines the very essence of democracy, which thrives on representation and participation,” the APC chairman added.
These vacancies resulted from the resignation of Senator Monday Okpebholo from the Edo Central Senatorial seat to run for the state’s governorship, which he won, also the appointment of Hon. Dennis Idahosa as the state’s deputy governor after he left his post as the representative of the Ovia North East/South West Federal Constituency.
