Senate President Akpabio Declares Three Seats Vacant Following Lawmakers' Demise

ABUJA — Senate President Godswill Akpabio officially declared three senatorial seats vacant during Tuesday’s plenary session, following the passing of several members of the 10th Senate.

The vacancies affect the following districts:

• Enugu North Senatorial District

• Nasarawa North Senatorial District

• Rivers South-East Senatorial District

Constitutional Compliance

Invoking the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), Akpabio noted that the formal declaration was a necessary step to facilitate representation for the affected constituents.

“Due to the tragedies that have befallen the 10th Senate, vacancies have been created for midterm elections... to ensure that we fill the vacancies created by the demise of our colleagues,” Akpabio stated.

Mandate for By-Elections

Following the formal declaration, the Senate President directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to commence arrangements for by-elections. Under constitutional guidelines, these elections are typically expected to be conducted within 30 days of the official notification of a vacancy.

The directive sets the stage for intensified political activity in Enugu, Nasarawa, and Rivers states, as parties prepare to contest the now-open seats in the upper legislative chamber.