In a significant development, the President of the 10th Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has officially declared the seats of David Umahi and Ibrahim Geidam in the upper legislative chamber vacant.
The decision stems from their recent appointments as ministers of works and police affairs, respectively.
David Umahi, who represented Ebonyi South, and Ibrahim Geidam, the representative for Yobe East, now leave vacant positions in the Senate, prompting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prepare for upcoming by-elections in these senatorial districts.
Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of INEC, disclosed on Monday that the commission is contemplating conducting by-elections and rerun polls in state and federal constituencies come February 2024. Emphasizing the need for political parties to organize fresh primaries within the stipulated timeframe, Yakubu stated, “The commission is looking at the first week of February 2024, that is, in just a little over one month, to conduct both the re-run and by-elections.”
He further mentioned that the INEC management will convene to assess preparations and announce a definitive date, along with a detailed timetable and schedule of activities for these impending elections. The political landscape in Ebonyi and Yobe is poised for change as voters anticipate the by-elections to fill the void left by the ministerial appointments.
