INEC Set for By-Elections as Akpabio Announces Vacancies in Senate

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday declared three Senate seats vacant following the deaths of their occupants.

The affected seats are those previously held by the late Senators Okey Ezea of Enugu North, Godiya Akwashiki of Nasarawa North, and Barinada Mpigi of Rivers South-East.
“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 INEC,” he told plenary, formally invoking the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He thereafter announced each seat individually—Enugu North, followed by Nasarawa North, and then Rivers South-East—as officially vacant.
The development sets the stage for fresh political contests as parties begin the process of nominating candidates for the upper legislative chamber.
Akpabio noted that the elections would ensure that constituents are not left without representation for an extended period.