Senate Declares Sen. Barry Mpigi’s Seat, Two Others Vacant, Directs INEC To Conduct By-Elections
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday 31, March 2026 formally declared three senatorial seats vacant following the deaths of members of the 10th Senate, setting the stage for fresh elections in the affected districts.
The vacancies affect the Enugu North Senatorial District, previously represented by late Senator Okechukwu Ezea of the Labour Party; the Nasarawa North Senatorial District, formerly occupied by late Senator Godiya Akwashiki of the All Progressives Congress (APC); and the Rivers South-East Senatorial District, previously represented by late Senator Barry Mpigi of the APC.
Akpabio made the declaration during plenary, stating that the action became necessary in line with constitutional provisions governing vacancies in the National Assembly arising from the demise of serving lawmakers.
He said, “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.”
The Senate President first declared the seat for Enugu North vacant before extending the declaration to the Nasarawa North and Rivers South-East senatorial seats.
“I hereby declare vacant Enugu North Senatorial District. The seat is hereby declared vacant,” Akpabio stated during the plenary session.
He subsequently announced that the seats representing Nasarawa North in Nasarawa State and Rivers South-East in Rivers State were equally vacant.
Following the declaration, Akpabio directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to commence the process for conducting by-elections to fill the vacant seats within the timeframe stipulated by law.
“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,” he said. The development now paves the way for fresh electoral contests in the three senatorial districts, as political parties are expected to begin consultations and preparations for the by-elections.
