Olasunmibo Aboluwade, Abuja
Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Wednesday declared Yobe East and Ebonyi South senatorial seats vacant.
The seats were formerly occupied by Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe) and Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), who resigned from the Red Chamber following their appointment as ministers by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Both Geidam and Umahi were part of the 45 ministers sworn in by President Tinubu in August at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
Akpabio, during Wednesday’s plenary, said declaring the two senatorial seats vacant was in accordance with constitutional provisions.
He, therefore, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct by-election to fill the vacancies.
He said, “The Ebonyi South and Yobe East senatorial seats are hereby declared vacant in accordance with constitutional provisions.
“This follows the assumption of office as ministers of senators Ibrahim Geidam and Dave Umahi.
“INEC may therefore wish to conduct a by-election to fill the vacant seats.”
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu had said that the electoral body would conduct reruns and bye-elections in February 2024 to fill existing vacancies in the state and federal legislatures.
