Akpabio Declares Three Senate Seats Vacant, Orders Fresh Elections Within 30 Days
By Our Correspondent
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has formally declared three senatorial seats vacant following the death of members of the 10th Senate.
The affected constituencies are Enugu North Senatorial District, Nasarawa North Senatorial District, and Rivers South-East Senatorial District.
Akpabio made the declaration during plenary on Tuesday, stating that the vacancies were created as a result of the demise of the lawmakers representing the affected districts, in accordance with constitutional provisions.
According to him, the development necessitates the conduct of by-elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission to fill the vacant positions.
Citing the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Senate President emphasized that the electoral body is mandated to organize fresh polls within the legally stipulated timeframe.
“I hereby declare vacant the seats of Enugu North, Nasarawa North, and Rivers South-East Senatorial Districts,” Akpabio announced during plenary.
He further directed the electoral commission to conduct by-elections within 30 days from the date of the declaration, as required by law.
The development sets the stage for fresh political contests in the affected districts, as political parties are expected to begin preparations to fill the vacancies in the upper legislative chamber.
