Finally, Senate Declares Ubah,  Okpebholo’s Seats Vacant

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday March 11, 2025, formally directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to take steps to conduct by-elections to fill the vacancies created in Anambra South and Edo Central Senatorial Zones.

The declaration is coming several  months since the seats became vacant.

The Edo Central Senatorial District position in the upper national legislative chamber became vacant following the election and swearing-in of Senator Monday Okpebholo as the Edo State Governor in November 2024 .

Senator Okpebholo was declared winner of the September 21, 2024 off-circle gubernatorial polls in the State ,.

Conversely, the Anambra South Senatorial seat became vacant with the sudden passing of Senator Ifeanyi  Ubah in July 2024.

The INEC had severally alluded to the non declaration of the seats vacant by the authorities  of the Senate as a major reason for its failure to conduct by-elections several months after their  occupants exited.

The Electoral umpire had insisted  that it will  immediately proceed with the processes to fill the vacancies, once it received the greenlight from the Senate.

The Senate President Godswill Akpabio, during plenary on Tuesday called on  the INEC to conduct elections so that  the affected Districts will regain representation in the Senate.

Already ,so many interested aspirants have been positioning themselves in the past few months waiting for the blowing of the official whistle to throw their hats into the ring.