‘It’s unconstitutional’, Declare Sen. Okpebholo’s seat vacant before Edo election, group tells Akpabio
A socio-political group, Esan Professionals for Progress, has petitioned the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, urging him to declare the seat of Senator Monday Okpebholo vacant due to his prolonged absence from the Senate.
The group, led by Kingsley Akhigbe, stated that Senator Okpebholo, who represents Edo Central Senatorial District, has been absent for over five months, neglecting his legislative duties and the representation of his constituents, while using his governorship ambition as an excuse.
This absence, according to the group, has had a detrimental impact on the people of Edo Central Senatorial District, leaving them without a voice to address their concerns.
Mr Akhigbe cited the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended), which mandates that a Senator must sit for at least 180 days in a calendar year.
He noted that Senator Okpebholo’s absence exceeds one-third of this period, rendering him ineligible to continue holding his seat.
Mr Akhigbe urged the Senate President to declare the seat vacant, enabling the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct a by-election, thereby providing the people of Edo Central Senatorial District the representation they deserve.
The petition reads in part: “The Esan Professionals For Progress requests that you invoke your powers under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended) and declare vacant the seat of Senator Monday Okpebholo, who represents the good people of Edo Central Senatorial District in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“This request is borne out of the fact that Senator Okpebholo has not been found or seen on the floor of the Senate or anywhere within the legislative chambers for several months.
“He has not been carrying out his legislative duties and representation of the members of his Senatorial District. Even before he won the All Progressives Congress governorship ticket, he had been absent from the Senate sessions.
“Edo Central Senatorial District requires that our Senator to address the issues and challenges confronting his people. Regrettably, Senator Okpebholo has abandoned his duties, and the people of the Senatorial District are the worse for it as they have no one to lay their complaints to.”
“We have seen several senators contest for governorship in recent times without allowing their duties in the Senate chamber to suffer. Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa state is a perfect example. Even as a contestant, he was ever present in the Senate carrying out his duties diligently until he was sworn in as governor.
“We, therefore, implore you, Distinguished Senate President, to save the people of Edo Central Senatorial District from this mal-representation by declaring the seat of Senator Monday Okpebholo vacant, to pave the way for the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a by-election to fill the vacancy created by his exit from the Senate, to give our people the much-needed representation that has so far eluded them.”
