President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio today declared three senatorial seats vacant following the deaths of members of the 10th Senate.
The vacancies affect Enugu North Senatorial District, Nasarawa North Senatorial District, and Rivers South-East Senatorial District.
Senator Akpabio made the announcement during plenary, noting that the development was necessitated by the demise of the affected lawmakers in line with constitutional provisions.
Citing the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), he formally declared the seats vacant.
He also declared vacant the seat representing Nasarawa North Senatorial District in Nasarawa State, as well as that of Rivers South-East Senatorial District in Rivers State.
Senator Akpabio subsequently directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct by-elections to fill the vacancies within the timeframe stipulated by law.
The development sets the stage for fresh electoral contests in the affected districts as political parties prepare to fill the vacant seats in the upper legislative chamber.