By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Wednesday declared Yobe East and Ebonyi South senatorial seats vacant.
The seats were formerly occupied by Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe) and Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), who resigned from the Red Chamber following their appointment as ministers by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Both Geidam and Umahi were part of the 45 ministers sworn in by President Tinubu in August at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
Akpabio, during Wednesday’s plenary, said declaring the two senatorial seats vacant was by constitutional provisions.
He, therefore, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a by-election to fill the vacancies.
He said, “The Ebonyi South and Yobe East senatorial seats are hereby declared vacant by constitutional provisions.
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“This follows the assumption of office as ministers of senators Ibrahim Geidam and Dave Umahi. INEC may therefore wish to conduct a by-election to fill the vacant seats.”
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu had said that the electoral body would conduct reruns and bye-elections in February 2024 to fill existing vacancies in the state and federal legislatures.
Meanwhile, a former Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Simon Lalong has been sworn in as the senator representing Plateau South senatorial district.
He was sworn in yesterday by the Senate Clerk, Chinedu Akubueze, at the commencement of plenary presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Lalong’s inauguration followed his resignation from the federal executive council, where he served as Labour minister.
On Tuesday, he officially tendered his resignation to President Bola Tinubu.
The Court of Appeal had sacked Napoleon Bali (PDP) and declared Lalong (APC) the duly elected senator representing Plateau South and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue him the Certificate of Return.
Lalong, a former Plateau State governor, said after extensive consultations, it has become expedient for him to proceed and take his seat at the Red Chambers to continue to contribute to the Renewed Hope agenda of Mr President.
Speaking after his swearing-in, Lalong promised to continue to serve his people by providing quality representation in the Red Chamber.
“My constituents will not be disappointed in me,” assured Lalong, who was accompanied to the Senate by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Abdullahi Ganduje.
