The Senate has formally requested the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct by-elections to fill the vacant seats in the Edo Central and Anambra South Senatorial Districts.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio made the announcement during Tuesday’s plenary, officially declaring the vacancies.
The Edo Central seat was declared vacant in 2024 after Monday Okpebholo’s inauguration as Governor of Edo State in December following his election. Meanwhile, the Anambra South seat has remained vacant since the passing of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah in July 2024.
In January 2025, INEC had stated it was awaiting a formal request from the Senate before proceeding with a by-election for Anambra South. This was reiterated by Anambra State’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Elizabeth Agu, during a stakeholders’ dialogue organized by the International Press Centre (IPC) in Awka, the state capital.
With both senatorial districts currently unrepresented in the upper chamber, Akpabio urged INEC to conduct the elections promptly in order to restore full representation to the affected constituencies.
