Akpabio Declares Three Seats Of Dead Senators Vacant, Asks INEC To Conduct By-elections

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has declared three seats of dead senators of the 10th Senate vacant. 

Akpabio made the announcement during plenary on Tuesday, adding that the vacancies were created by the demise of lawmakers representing the affected districts.

According to him, the declaration was in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

His words, “Due to the tragedies that have befallen the 10th Senate, vacancies have been created for midterm elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure that we fill the vacancies created by the demise of our colleagues.

“I hereby declare vacant the following senatorial states: Enugu State, Enugu North Senatorial District. The seat is hereby declared vacant."

He also declared the seats representing Nasarawa North Senatorial District in Nasarawa State and Rivers South-East Senatorial District in Rivers State vacant.

“In line with the provisions of our Constitution, the INEC is accordingly mandated to conduct fresh polls to fill these vacant senatorial seats in the affected states within the time specified in the Constitution which is about 30 days from this declaration,” Akpabio added.