The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has declared the Ondo South Senatorial seat vacant following the appointment of Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
Akpabio made the announcement during plenary on Tuesday, stating that the vacancy takes immediate effect in line with constitutional provisions.
The development follows Ibrahim’s official accreditation at the United Nations headquarters in New York, where he presented his Letter of Credence to António Guterres as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN.
Announcing the vacancy, Akpabio said the Senate had fulfilled its constitutional responsibility by notifying the Independent National Electoral Commission to commence the process of conducting a by-election.
“The seat for Ondo South Senatorial District is hereby declared vacant with immediate effect,” Akpabio said during plenary.
He further directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to organise a by-election within 30 days to fill the vacant seat.
According to the Senate President, the move is in compliance with the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates the National Assembly to notify the electoral umpire whenever a vacancy occurs in its membership.
Before his diplomatic appointment, Ibrahim, a member of the All Progressives Congress, represented Ondo South in the Senate.
His transition from the National Assembly to the global diplomatic stage is expected to trigger political activity in Ondo South ahead of the by-election.
Further details are expected.
