President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday, officially declared three senatorial seats vacant following the death of their occupants, while also announcing the defection of the Niger South senator, Peter Jiya, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Vacant Seats Declared
During plenary, Akpabio listed the affected districts as:
- Enugu North
- Nasarawa North
- Rivers South East
He emphasised that the declaration was in line with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct bye-elections within 90 days to ensure continued representation.
“For those who have departed, we pray that their souls rest in perfect peace,” Akpabio said, paying tribute to the late lawmakers.
Niger South Senator Defects to APC
Senator Peter Jiya cited internal quarrels and divisions within the PDP as reasons for his defection. In his resignation letter, he expressed gratitude to his former party for the opportunity to serve.
“I remain grateful and wish the party well in the future, especially if it is able to resolve its internal challenges,” Jiya wrote.
Jiya’s move strengthens APC’s dominance in the Senate, shifting the current composition of the 109-member chamber to:
- APC – 90
- ADC – 9
- PDP – 4
- APGA – 1
- NDC – 1
- NNPP – 1
- Accord – 1
- Vacant – 3
Plenary Adjourned
The Senate adjourned until April 21 to allow Christian senators to observe Easter celebrations, with Akpabio stressing the chamber’s commitment to democratic principles despite ongoing political shifts.