By Roland Ike, Abakaliki
A Former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi state, Chief Silas Onu has urged Senate President, Godswill Akpabio to immediately and officially declare the Ebonyi South senatorial seat vacant.
Onu, a Lawyer made the call on Thursday in a letter he signed and addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
The PDP stalwart in the letter, said the declaration would enable the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct election into the vacant seat.
“The taking of oath of office as Minister of Works by Senator David Umahi in August has made the senatorial zone not to have a senator thereby denying it of many benefits, rights and privileges.
“This letter is 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 letter read.
Onu in the letter said the above provision is reinforced by section 68 (1) (d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
“Based on the fact that Umahi who represented Ebonyi South in this Senate, took oath of office as Minister of the Federation on 21” of August, 2023, Ebonyi South Senate seat became vacant.
“Most Distinguished Senate President, 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 on you Sir, to give effect to this vacancy by communicating such to the Independent National Electoral Commission who in turn shall cause a bye-election to be held within 90 days as required by law’ the letter read.
He lamented that the zone which he hails from, has as a result of the vacuum, lost all benefits that should had accrued to it if it had a senator.
“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 Senate.
for 116 days.
“Time is running out and we have certainly missed out of the current budget circle because we have no representative to advance our interest in the said budget.
“There is no evidence that the Senate president has given effect to the vacancy either by pronouncement or communication to INEC.
“Therefore, I plead that you, without further delay, give effect to the long existing vacancy for INEC to carry out its own Constitutional duty within a reasonable time as permitted by law”. the letter read.
He noted that Akpabio as a considerate leader of the Senate will not deliberately abdicate his duty to the people of Ebonyi south Senatorial zone at this critical time.
“I believe that you will act swiftly to this issue as I thank you most sincerely for your understanding and action”, the letter read.
