Akpabio Drops Bombshell: Declares 3 Senate Seats Vacant, Alerts INEC

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday declared three senatorial seats in the upper chamber of the National Assembly vacant following the demise of the lawmakers who previously occupied them.

According to Ireporter Online, the affected constituencies include Enugu North Senatorial District, Nasarawa North Senatorial District, and Rivers South-East Senatorial District. The declaration was made during plenary, with the Senate President stating that the action was in compliance with relevant constitutional provisions governing legislative vacancies.

Addressing lawmakers, Akpabio explained that the unfortunate losses within the 10th Senate had necessitated the creation of vacancies that must be filled through midterm elections. He subsequently directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct by-elections within the timeframe stipulated by the Constitution, noting that fresh polls are expected to take place within approximately 30 days from the date of the declaration.

In a related development, the Senate also approved a ₦68 trillion national budget for the 2026 fiscal year. According to Ireporter Online, the approved figure reflects a ₦9 trillion increase from the initial ₦59 trillion proposal. The budget is set to run until December 31, 2026.