BREAKING: Akpabio declares three Senate seats vacant, asks INEC to conduct by-elections

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has declared three senatorial seats vacant following the deaths of members of the 10th Senate.

Akpabio made the announcement during plenary on Tuesday, noting that the vacancies were created by the demise of lawmakers representing the affected districts.

“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.

Akpabio said the declaration was made in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

“I hereby declare vacant the following senatorial states: Enugu State, Enugu North Senatorial District. The seat is hereby declared vacant,” he said.

Akpabio also declared the seat representing Nasarawa North Senatorial District in Nasarawa State vacant.

He further announced that the seat representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District in Rivers State is vacant.

“In line with the provisions of our Constitution, the Independent National Electoral Commission is accordingly mandated to conduct fresh polls to fill these vacant senatorial seats in the affected states within the time specified in the Constitution which is about 30 days from this declaration,” Akpabio said.