The Senate has officially directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct by-elections to fill the vacant seats in Anambra South and Edo Central Senatorial Districts.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio issued the directive during plenary on Tuesday while formally declaring the seats vacant. INEC had previously stated in January 2025 that it was awaiting an official request from the Senate before proceeding with the elections, particularly for Anambra South, which has been without representation since 2024.
The vacancy in Anambra South arose following the death of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on July 27, 2024. Ubah, who reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest in London at the age of 52, had departed Nigeria for the United Kingdom just two days prior.
Meanwhile, the Edo Central Senatorial District seat became vacant after Senator Monday Okpebholo was elected governor of Edo State in the September 22, 2024, governorship election. Okpebholo, the APC candidate, secured 291,667 votes, defeating his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 247,655 votes. The Senate had declared the Edo Central seat vacant in 2024 following a valedictory session in honor of Okpebholo.
INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Anambra State, Elizabeth Agu, recently reaffirmed the commission’s readiness to conduct by-elections once directed by the Senate. She made this statement during a stakeholders’ dialogue organized by the International Press Centre in Awka, the Anambra State capital.
With the Senate’s directive now in place, INEC is expected to announce the election dates soon, paving the way for fresh representation in the affected senatorial districts.
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