The vacancies in the Nigeria Senate has taken a new turn as Godswill Akpabio officially declared three senatorial seats vacant in the 10th Assembly.
Speaking during Tuesday’s plenary, Akpabio confirmed that the vacancies resulted from the deaths of lawmakers representing the affected senatorial zones. He noted that the declaration follows constitutional provisions guiding legislative representation.
Akpabio listed the affected constituencies affected, highlighting their importance in the legislative structure.
The vacant seats include Enugu North Senatorial zone in Enugu State, Nasarawa North Senatorial zone in Nasarawa State, and Rivers South-East Senatorial zone in Rivers State.
These constituencies will now remain unrepresented until fresh elections are conducted to fill the positions.
INEC to Conduct By-Elections Within 30 Days
Meanwhile, this announcement has triggered constitutional processes requiring the Independent National Electoral Commission to organise by-elections.
According to Akpabio, INEC is mandated to conduct elections to fill the vacant seats within approximately 30 days. This timeline aligns with constitutional requirements for replacing deceased lawmakers.
Furthermore, Akpabio emphasised that the declaration complies fully with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
He explained that the vacancies in the Nigeria Senate automatically necessitate midterm elections to ensure continuous representation for affected constituencies. Therefore, the process aims to maintain democratic balance within the Senate.
