Ogun by-election: Elegbeji wants parties allowed to appoint replacements without polls
The All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate in the upcoming Remo Federal Constituency by-election in Ogun State, Adesola Elegbeji, has demanded that the Nigerian Constitution be reviewed to permit political parties to hold onto legislative seats in the event of a serving lawmaker’s death without holding new elections.
The existing system, she said, is a “double punishment” for political parties that lose a lawmaker in office.
Elegbeji spoke on Thursday while addressing newsmen at “An Evening with the Press” organized and held in the premises of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ogun State Council.
She, alongside other opposition party candidates, is contesting for the seat in order to succeed the late Adewunmi Onanuga, a former member who passed away in January following a brief illness.
DAILY POST reports that the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency by-election is scheduled to hold on Saturday, August 16, 2025.
Her words: “We lost our sister, and now we’re being made to fight for what is rightfully ours. We should be allowed to present a replacement without contest.
“I believe that in the nearest future, the constitution will be amended or the electoral act will be amended such that when this happens to a party that has legitimately won a seat, the party is allowed to appoint someone else to represent them without going through an election.”
Speaking earlier, the NUJ Chairman, Comrade Wale Olanrewaju, clarified that the media engagement was not intended as a political campaign, but rather a forum for voters to hear directly from the candidate regarding their plans for the Remo Federal Constituency.
He said: “A few days ago, the ADC candidate was here before the gentlemen of the press. Today, the APC candidate. This is not a campaign platform; we are journalists, not politicians, so we are not here to campaign for any candidate.
“The Ogun NUJ Council has set up this platform for members of your constituency to hear your mind concerning what you have for them.”
Olanrewaju expressed the belief that the coming by-election will not only be violent-free, but also credible and just.
Ogun by-election: Elegbeji wants parties allowed to appoint replacements without polls
