The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has officially declared three senatorial seats vacant following the deaths of members of the 10th Senate. The affected constituencies are Enugu North, Nasarawa North, and Rivers South-East Senatorial Districts.
Akpabio made the announcement during plenary on Tuesday, explaining that the vacancies arose due to the unfortunate passing of the lawmakers representing the affected districts. He noted that the declaration was made in accordance with constitutional provisions governing such situations.
“Due to the tragedies that have occurred within the 10th Senate, vacancies now exist that must be filled through midterm elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission,” he stated.
Citing relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Akpabio formally declared each of the seats vacant, beginning with Enugu North Senatorial District. He proceeded to announce the vacancies for Nasarawa North in Nasarawa State and Rivers South-East in Rivers State.
Following the declaration, the Senate President directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organize by-elections to fill the vacant positions. He emphasized that the electoral body is required to conduct the polls within the timeframe specified by law, which is approximately 30 days from the date of the declaration.
“In line with constitutional requirements, INEC is mandated to conduct fresh elections in the affected senatorial districts within the stipulated period,” Akpabio said.
The development paves the way for new electoral contests in the three districts, as political parties are expected to begin preparations to nominate candidates for the upcoming by-elections. These elections will determine new representatives to fill the vacant seats in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
The declaration underscores the constitutional process for maintaining full representation in the Senate, ensuring that affected constituencies are not left without legislative representation for an extended period.
