Akpabio Declares Enugu North, Nasarawa North, Rivers South-East Seats for By-Elections
Abuja, Nigeria — President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has formally declared three Senate seats vacant following the deaths of their occupants, paving the way for fresh by-elections to restore representation in the affected constituencies.
The vacant seats include Enugu North, previously represented by the late Okey Ezea; Nasarawa North, held by Godiya Akwashiki; and Rivers South-East, formerly represented by Barinada Mpigi.
Announcing the development during plenary, Akpabio cited constitutional provisions, noting that the deaths have created vacancies that must be filled through midterm elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“Due to the tragedies that have befallen the 10th Senate, vacancies have been created for midterm elections by INEC to ensure that we fill the vacancies created by the demise of our colleagues,” he stated.
Invoking the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Senate President directed INEC to organize by-elections within the legally stipulated timeframe to ensure constituents are not left without representation.
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He proceeded to declare each of the seats—Enugu North, Nasarawa North, and Rivers South-East—officially vacant, setting the stage for political parties to begin nominating candidates ahead of the polls.
The development is expected to trigger political activities across the affected regions, as stakeholders prepare for competitive by-elections to fill the vacant positions in the upper legislative chamber.
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