The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday formally declared three senatorial seats vacant following the death of serving lawmakers in the 10th Senate, a development that now paves the way for fresh elections in the affected constituencies.
As gathered by Newspadi, the affected districts include Enugu North Senatorial District, Nasarawa North Senatorial District, and Rivers South-East Senatorial District. The announcement came during plenary, where Akpabio addressed lawmakers and explained that the vacancies became inevitable due to the unfortunate passing of the senators representing those areas.
Speaking on the floor of the Senate, Akpabio described the situation as a painful loss to the legislature but stressed the need to follow constitutional provisions in filling the empty seats. According to him, the development requires immediate action to ensure that the affected constituencies do not remain without representation.
“Due to the tragedies that have befallen the 10th Senate, vacancies have been created,” Akpabio said. “This calls for midterm elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission so that the people in those districts can continue to have a voice in this chamber.”
Citing relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Senate President proceeded to make the declarations one after the other. He began with Enugu North, clearly stating that the seat now stands vacant and requires urgent electoral action.
“I hereby declare the seat representing Enugu North Senatorial District vacant,” he announced.
He followed up with similar declarations for Nasarawa North Senatorial District and Rivers South-East Senatorial District, bringing the total number of vacant seats to three.
As further gathered by Newspadi, Akpabio did not stop at the declarations. He went ahead to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission to begin the process of conducting by-elections to fill the vacancies in line with constitutional timelines.
“In accordance with the Constitution, the Independent National Electoral Commission is hereby mandated to organise fresh elections in these senatorial districts,” he said. “These elections must take place within the time frame provided by law, which is about 30 days from the date of this declaration.”
The directive effectively sets the stage for political activities to resume in the affected regions, as political parties, aspirants, and stakeholders begin preparations for the upcoming by-elections. Analysts expect intense political competition, given the strategic importance of the Senate in shaping national policies and decisions.
For residents of Enugu North, Nasarawa North, and Rivers South-East, the announcement signals a new electoral process that will determine who represents their interests at the National Assembly. Many observers believe the elections will also serve as a test of political strength for parties ahead of future national contests.
As the situation unfolds, all eyes now turn to INEC to release an official timetable and guidelines for the by-elections, while political actors begin consultations and mobilisations across the affected districts.
