The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Saturday, June 20, 2026 for the conduct of National Assembly by-elections in six states of the federation. According to Joash Amupitan, Chairman of the Commission, the election will cover Senate vacancies in Enugu, Nasarawa, Rivers and Ondo States as well as a House of Representative seat in Kano.
The vacant legislative seats have opened up due to two distinct circumstances, the tragic passing of sitting lawmakers and an international diplomatic appointment. More details below:
Enugu North Senatorial District
- Previous Occupant: Lt. Senator Okechukwu Ezea
- Political Party: Labour Party (LP)
- Reason for Vacancy: Senator Ezea tragically passed away on November 18, 2025, at the age of 62 after a brief illness. Elected during the 2023 general elections, he was a first-time lawmaker, lawyer, and notable industrialist who famously won a historic victory to claim the seat for the Labour Party in Enugu State. Until his demise, he served as the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Cooperation and Integration in Africa/NEPAD.
Nasarawa North Senatorial District
- Previous Occupant: Lt. Senator Godiya Akwashiki
- Political Party: Social Democratic Party (SDP)
- Reason for Vacancy: The seat became vacant following the untimely demise of Senator Akwashiki on December 31, 2025. He was a seasoned legislator who previously served as the Deputy Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly before moving to the National Assembly, where he was highly regarded for his contributions to federal legislative frameworks.
Rivers South-East Senatorial District
- Previous Occupant: Lt. Senator Barinada Mpigi
- Political Party: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
- Reason for Vacancy: Senator Mpigi passed away on February 19, 2026, at the age of 64 following a brief illness. He was a veteran of the National Assembly whose federal legislative career spanned over a decade, including two terms in the House of Representatives (representing Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo Federal Constituency) before his election to the Senate in 2019 and re-election in 2023. At the time of his passing, he was the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works.
Ondo South Senatorial District
- Previous Occupant: Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, CFR
- Political Party: All Progressives Congress (APC)
- Reason for Vacancy: This vacancy arose from a diplomatic transition. Senator Jimoh Ibrahim resigned his seat in May 2026 following his appointment by President Bola Tinubu to serve as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.
Dawakin Kudu / Warawa Federal Constituency (Kano State)
- Previous Occupant: Lt. Hon. Muhammad Danjuma Hassan
- Political Party: New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)
- Reason for Vacancy: Hon. Hassan passed away in April 2026 at the age of 66. A first-term member of the 10th Assembly but widely recognized as a highly professional and long-time legal mind around the National Assembly, he served as the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary until his death.
