Adamu, Kyari, Nasiha’s Seats Still Vacant In Senate Nine Months After Resignation

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), nine months after the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu and some lawmakers resigned from the senate, is yet to conduct a by-election to fill those positions.

Other lawmakers whose seat has been vacant in the senate are APC Deputy National Chairman (North), Abubakar Kyari and the Zamfara State Deputy Governor, Muhammad Hassan Nasiha.

The lawmakers before their resignation from the Senate represented Nasarawa West, Borno North and Zamfara Central Senatorial districts, respectively.

According to Daily Trust which reached out to some constituents in the affected districts, noted that they are not pleased with the lack of representation in the Senate.

Adamu and Kyari, after emerging as APC National Chairman and Deputy National Chairman (North) respectively, tendered their resignation on April 12.

Nasiha, who emerged as the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State after Mahdi Aliyu-Gusau was impeached, resigned on the 1st of March.

Ever since their resignation, INEC has failed to conduct a by-election for the affected districts.

However, political parties have fielded candidates for the vacant seats ahead of the February 25, 2023 election.

Some constituents have charged INEC to conduct an election to fill the vacant seats.

One of the constituents in Borno North, Gwamna Mshelia who spoke with Daily Trust said the failure of INEC to conduct an election is affecting Borno State in representation at the National Assembly.

He said, “Because, where votes are to take place on any matter before the Senate, Borno will be one-third represented since Kashim Shettima (Borno Central), the APC vice presidential candidate too is not attending the sitting.”

The Chairman of the Network of Civil Society in Borno State, Bulama Abiso, also urged INEC to be conscious of time and organise the by-election.

Abiso said, “If the time within which the by-election should be held is passed, it will affect the constituents and the entire Borno State. It’s now that our people need representation more than ever before.

“So, let the vacant positions be filled to have the right people at the right place to articulate their problems.”

Another constituent in Zamfara Central, Sani Abubakar said, “The reason why I said so is that those constituencies with representations are still benefiting a lot, especially in terms of constituency projects but we are missing out.

“Everything has stopped, we are not being represented. If you want anything from the senate, those of us that are from Zamfara Central, who do you go to?”