Speaker Abbas declares Ogun federal seat vacant after lawmaker Onanuga’s death earlier this year.
INEC is now expected to announce a bye-election date to fill the vacant position.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has declared the Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency seat in Ogun State vacant following the death of its former occupant, Hon. Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga.
Hon. Onanuga, who was serving as the Deputy Chief Whip of the House, passed away on January 15, 2025, after a brief illness. Her death left a vacuum in the representation of the people of Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North in the Green Chamber. She was widely regarded as a dedicated legislator who championed the interests of her constituents and played an active role in the legislative process.
Speaker Abbas made the official declaration on Wednesday during plenary at the National Assembly in Abuja. He stated that the decision was in line with Section 68(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which mandates the legislature to declare a seat vacant when a member dies or ceases to hold office.
“The House has fulfilled its constitutional responsibility by officially declaring the Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency seat vacant, following the unfortunate demise of our colleague, Hon. Adewunmi Onanuga,” the Speaker said.
With this declaration, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is now expected to take the next step by announcing the date for a bye-election to fill the vacant seat. INEC is constitutionally empowered to organize elections within a specified timeframe after a vacancy has been officially declared.
The Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North seat is one of five currently vacant positions in the House of Representatives. According to official records, four of these seats became vacant due to the deaths of sitting members, while one seat in the Oredo Federal Constituency of Edo State became vacant after the former representative, Dennis Idahosa, was sworn in as the Deputy Governor of the state.
The upcoming bye-elections will offer constituents the chance to elect new lawmakers who will represent their interests and participate in national decision-making. While INEC has not yet released a timetable, it is expected to announce dates for the various bye-elections in due course.
The National Assembly continues to stress the importance of full representation across all constituencies, particularly in a democratic system that values the voice and participation of every Nigerian citizen.
