The Independent National Electoral Commission will hold by-elections to fill the vacant seats of four National Assembly members who passed away in 2024.

Our correspondent gathered on Sunday that the by-elections would be held after the upcoming Edo and Ondo governorship elections slated for September 21 and November 16, 2024, respectively.

Since its inauguration in June 2023, the 10th Assembly has lost four members.

They are Isa Dogonyaro, Ekene Adams, Musiliudeen Akinremi, and Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.

Dogonyaro, an All Progressives Congress member representing the Garki/Babura Federal Constituency of Jigawa State in the House of Representatives, died in Abuja on May 10, 2024, following an undisclosed illness.

Adams, a member of the Labour Party representing Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, passed away on July 16, 2024, at 39.

Akinremi, a two-term member representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency of Oyo State, died on July 10, 2024.

Senator Ubah, representing Anambra South, died in London on June 28, 2024.

Giving an update on the conduct of the by-elections for the late National Assembly members, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, told The PUNCH that the by-elections would likely be held after the Edo and Ondo governorship polls.

Kogi Officials Turn Themselves In To EFCC Over Corruption Allegations

Two officials of the Kogi State Government, Abdulsalami Hudu and Umar Oricha, on Monday, reported at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of corruption.

The decision of the two officials of the Kogi state government to report at the EFCC office, may not be unconnected with media reports last week that the Federal High Court in Abuja had ordered the arrest of Hudu and Oricha, over allegations of withdrawal of over ₦46bn in cash from the Kogi State government bank accounts.

The order was reportedly granted by Justice Emeka Nwite on Tuesday in a motion ex parte filed by the EFCC and marked as suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/909/2024.

Unconfirmed reports have it that the decision of the two officials to report at the EFCC, may also not be unconnected with the disposition of the Kogi State government to toe the line of respect for the rule of law, thereby encouraging its officials to report at the EFCC despite not receiving any warrant or invitation from the anti-corruption agency or any of its representatives.

At the time of this report, the two officials- Hudu, the former cashier at the Kogi State Government House and Oricha, the Director General of Government House Administration, were seen at the headquarters of the EFCC in Abuja.