The Senate has officially declared the Edo Central and Anambra South Senatorial seats vacant and has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct by-elections to fill them.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio made the announcement during plenary on Tuesday, explaining that the Edo Central seat became vacant after Monday Okpebholo was sworn in as Governor of Edo State in December 2024.
The Anambra South seat has also been without a representative since Senator Ifeanyi Ubah passed away in July 2024.
INEC had previously stated in January 2025 that it was waiting for a formal request from the Senate before proceeding with the Anambra South by-election.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Anambra, Elizabeth Agu, restated this during a stakeholders’ meeting in Awka, the state capital.
With both districts currently unrepresented in the Senate, Akpabio urged INEC to conduct the elections as soon as possible to ensure that the affected areas regain their voices in the upper legislative chamber.
