Another Senator joins APC, 3 Senate seats declared vacant

Number of Senators on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), rose to 89 Tuesday with defection of Senator Peter Jiya (Niger South) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to it.

This is as the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, declared vacant, seats occupied by the three Senators who died at different times in 2025 and 2026.

The affected Senators were Godiya Akwashiki (Nasarawa North), Okey Ezea (Enugu North ) and Barinada Mpigi (Rivers South East) .

“Due to the tragedies that have befallen the 10th Senate, vacancies have been created for midterm elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) to ensure that we fill the vacancies created by the demise of our colleagues.

“I hereby declare vacant, seats for Enugu North Senatorial District, Nasarawa North Senatorial District and Rivers South East Senatorial District,” he said.

The development sets the stage for fresh electoral contests in the affected districts as political parties prepare to fill the vacant seats in the Senate.

Defection of Senator Jiya to APC on Tuesday, makes current configuration of Senators across party lines to be 89 for APC, 9 for ADC, 4 for PDP, 1 for NNPP, 1 for Accord Party, NDC 1 and APGA 1 , totalling 106.