By Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja

Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah, formerly of the All Progressives Congress (APC), occupied the Anambra South seat until his death on 26th July 2024, while the Governor of Edo State, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, also of the APC, represented Edo Central until his election and subsequent inauguration on 12th November 2024.

Speaking in plenary on Tuesday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio directed INEC to conduct the bye-elections to fill the seats, which he had previously declared vacant.

Similarly, the Senate on Tuesday approved the restoration of Aniocha North II State Constituency in Delta State, in compliance with a Supreme Court judgment delivered in 2019.

The decision followed a motion sponsored by Senator Ned Munir Nwoko (Delta North), who highlighted the legal battle initiated in 2014 by the people of several towns in Aniocha North Local Government Area.

The people had approached the Federal High Court, Asaba, seeking the restoration of the constituency. Expressing concern over the delay, the Senate noted that the inaction undermined the rule of law and deprived residents of their right to proper representation in the Delta State House of Assembly.

It also directed INEC to ensure its implementation in the next State Houses of Assembly election after the expiration of the current Delta State House of Assembly.

Additionally, the Senate sought the concurrence of the House of Representatives in line with constitutional provisions.

Although the Federal High Court had initially dismissed their case, the Court of Appeal, Benin Division, ruled in their favour on 22nd November 2017, ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct elections in the restored constituency, Sen. Nwoko said while leading debate on the motion.

He noted that INEC sought to challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court, but the apex court, in a judgment on 29th November 2019, dismissed the application, affirming the Court of Appeal’s decision as final and binding.

Following the ruling, INEC convened a stakeholders’ meeting on 19th November 2020 and later submitted a report to the National Assembly for further legislative action. However, no further steps were taken to implement the Supreme Court’s directive.