The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has officially declared the seats of two senators, David Umahi representing Ebonyi-South, and Ibrahim Giadam representing Yobe-East, vacant. This announcement came as a result of their appointments as ministers.
The declaration of vacancies in the senatorial seats was made during the plenary session on Wednesday in Abuja. Akpabio cited Section 68, Sub-section (1)(d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as the basis for this decision.
According to Akpabio, the constitutional provision necessitated the declaration of vacancies following Umahi’s and Giadam’s appointments to ministerial positions.
Consequently, Akpabio called upon the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to initiate the processes for conducting by-elections in the affected Ebonyi-South and Yobe-East senatorial districts without delay.
This move aligns with constitutional requirements to fill vacant positions in the Senate resulting from senators’ appointments to executive or ministerial positions. (NAN)
