Permit parties to retain seats of deceased lawmakers – Elegbeji

A politician, Mrs Adesola Elegbeji, has called for a Constitutional review permitting political parties to retain legislative seats lost to the death of serving lawmakers without going through fresh elections.

Elegbeji, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the upcoming Remo Federal Constituency by-election in Ogun, made the statement while addressing journalists in Abeokuta on Friday.

Speaking at the monthly guest forum, organised by the Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), she described the current practice as “double punishment” for such political parties.

Supreme news reports that Elegbeji is contesting the seat alongside candidates from other parties to replace the late Hon. Adewunmi Onanuga, who died in January after a brief illness.

Onanuga served as the Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, representing Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency until her death.

Elegbeji described the by-election as an unnecessary political hurdle triggered by tragedy.

She, however, called for a constitutional review seeking to prevent similar situations, allowing parties to present replacements without the need for fresh elections.

“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 near 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,” she said.

Supreme news reports that the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency by-election is scheduled to be held on Aug. 16.

Earlier in his remarks, the NUJ state Chairman, Comrade Wale Olanrewaju, emphasised that the media engagement was not intended as a political campaign.

He said it was rather a forum for the electorate to hear the plans of their candidates for the Remo Federal Constituency.

Olanrewaju expressed optimism that the forthcoming by-election would not only be violence-free but also credible and just.

“A few days ago, the ADC candidate was here before the gentlemen of the press, and 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.