By Olugbenga Salami
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday declared three Senate seats vacant following the deaths of their occupants.
The affected seats are those left by the late Senators Okey Ezea of the Enugu North, Godiya Akwashiki of Nasarawa North and Barinada Mpigi of Rivers South‑East, respectively.
“Due to the tragedies that have befallen the 10th Senate, vacancies have been created for midterm elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that we fill the vacancies created by the demise of our colleagues,” he said.
Citing the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Akpabio formally declared the seats vacant.
The Senate President subsequently directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to conduct by-elections to fill the vacancies within the timeframe stipulated by law.
“In line with the Constitution, vacancies have been created for midterm elections by the INEC,” he told plenary, formally invoking 1999 provisions (as amended).
He thereafter announced each seat individually—Enugu North, then Nasarawa North, then Rivers South‑East—as now empty.
The move triggers fresh contests as parties scramble to nominate candidates for the upper chamber.
The Senate President said the polls would ensure constituents are not left voiceless for long.
