‘Declare Ebonyi South senatorial seat vacant’ – PDP chieftain urges Akpabio

A former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State, Barrister Silas Onu has called on the Senate President, Godswill Apkabio to officially declare the Ebonyi South Senatorial seat vacant.

In a letter to the Senate President, the PDP chieftain noted that Akpabio’s declaration would enable the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct election into the vacant seat.

He noted that the appointment of Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi in August rendered the senatorial zone without a senator thereby denying it of many benefits, rights and privileges.

Barrister Onu stressed that it was unacceptable for the zone to stay over 116 days without a representative at the National Assembly.

“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.”