Hundreds of protesters on Tuesday massed at the National Assembly, demanding that the seat of the Senate Majority Whip, jailed Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu,
(APC-Abia North) be declared vacant.
The protesters under the aegis of Concerned Citizens of Abia North, are asking the Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan, to declare his seat vacant as a matter of urgency to enable the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election to fill Kalu’s seat.
Some of the protesters’ placards read as follows: “Senate President obey section 68(1)(f) of the Constitution and declare Abia North Senatorial seat vacant; ” Our voice must be heard, declare Abia North Seat Vacant now”; ” Declare Abia North Seat in the Senate Vacant”; ” Abia North Constituents are saying declare the Seat Vacant.”
The leader of the group, Mr Chukwudi Chukwu, said : “We are indigenes of the five (5) Local Government Areas: Arochukwu, Bende, Isuikwuato, Ohafia and Umunneochi that make up the Abia North Senatorial District of Abia State.
“We formally notify Your Excellency of the absence of our Senator Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, from the senate.
“The conviction and incarceration of the senator representing Abia North, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu leading to his long absence from the National Assembly has effectively silenced our voices.
“Abia North constituents have no representation in the nation’s highest deliberative body and cannot participate in matters that affect them.”

“Citizens in Abia North Senatorial District have every cause to feel abandoned, angry, less optimistic about their future because they have no representation in the senate.
“Democracy thrives and is significantly enriched when citizens participate in the process, and can speak through their elected representative,” Chukwu read from a letter, a copy of which was presented to Senate President’s representative.
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