Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki
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.”
“The above provision is reinforced by section 68 (1) (d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended)”, he said
“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”
He further stated that it behooves on Mr Akpabio ‘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”
“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”, Barrister Onu said.
