From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP), in Ebonyi State, Silas Onu, has petitioned the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, over the vacant Ebonyi South Senatorial seat.
Onu, in his letter, lamented that Ebonyi South Senatorial zone has been without a senator for the past 116 days, thereby denying the people of the zone of a representative in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
Former governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, had been elected as senator representing Ebonyi South Senatorial zone in the 2023 general elections. However, Umahi was later appointed Minister of Works by President Bola Tinubu.
The PDP chieftain contended that since Umahi ‘s appointment as minister, Akpabio was yet to declare his seat vacant as provided by extant laws. He appealed to the Senate President take officially declare the Senate seat vacant, so the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) can conduct a bye -election to fill the seat.
According to him, “pursuant to section 147 (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) which provides thus: ‘Where a member of the National Assembly or a House of Assembly is appointed as Minister of the Government of the Federation, he shall be deemed to have resigned his membership of the National Assembly or of the House of Assembly on his taking the oath of Office as Minister.’
“The above provision is reinforced by section 68 (1) (d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). Now, based on the fact that Senator David Nweze Umahi who represented Ebonyi South in this Senate, took oath of office as Minister of the Federation on 21st of August, 2023, Ebonyi South Senate seat became vacant.”
Onu added “most Distinguished Sir, section 68 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) empowers you to give effect to such vacancy. It behooves you to give effect to this vacancy by communicating the vacancy to the Independent National Electoral Commission who in turn shall cause a bye-election to be held within 90 days as required by law.
“I have taken the pains of writing this letter as it appears that my Senatorial Zone has been forgotten and has not been involved in the affairs of the Nigerian Senates, being our Constitutional right, for one hundred and sixteen days (116) this is unacceptable sir.
“Also, there is no evidence that your good self has given effect to the vacancy for Ebonyi South that has been in existence since August 21st, 2023 either by any form of pronouncement or communication to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“Time is running out and we have certainly missed out of the current budget circle as we have no representation in the Senate to advance our interest in the said budget and other important benefits that accrue to citizens.
“Therefore, may I plead that you, without further delay, give effect to the long existing vacancy for Ebonyi South so that the Independent National Electoral Commission can carry out its own Constitutional duty within a reasonable time as permitted by law.”