Senate Orders INEC to Conduct By-Elections for Vacant Senatorial Seats in Anambra and Edo
The Nigerian Senate has instructed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organize by-elections to fill the vacant seats in the Anambra South and Edo Central Senatorial Districts.
The directive was issued by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Tuesday’s plenary in Abuja, where he officially declared the two seats vacant and ordered INEC to begin preparations for the elections.
The Anambra South Senatorial seat became vacant after the passing of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on July 27, 2024. Ubah, 52, reportedly died from a cardiac arrest in London, two days after traveling to the UK on July 25.
Similarly, the seat for Edo Central became vacant when Senator Monday Okpebholo, its former occupant, was elected governor of Edo State in the September 22, 2024 gubernatorial election. Okpebholo, the APC candidate, secured 291,667 votes, defeating his main challenger, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 247,655 votes.
The Senate had previously declared Okpebholo’s seat vacant in December 2024 following a valedictory session held in his honor.
In January 2025, INEC had stated that it was awaiting an official request from the Senate before moving forward with the by-elections, especially for Anambra South, which had been without representation since 2024.
At a recent stakeholders’ dialogue held by the International Press Centre (IPC) in Awka, Anambra State, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Elizabeth Agu confirmed that the commission is ready to conduct the elections as soon as it receives the Senate’s formal directive.
