Just in: Speaker Abbas declares Idahosa’s seat vacant

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, declared the seat of Rep. Denis Idahosa, the newly elected deputy governor of Edo State, vacant on Wednesday.

Idahosa, who previously represented Ovia Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, has taken on a new role as the deputy governor of Edo State, following his victory in the September 21 governorship election and subsequent inauguration on November 12.

House Leader Julius Ihonvbere, in a letter read on the House floor by the Speaker, requested that the seat of Denis Idahosa be declared vacant, paving the way for the process of electing a new representative for the people of Ovia.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to organize fresh elections to fill the vacant position.

With Idahosa’s new role as deputy governor of Edo State, the House now has four vacant seats, necessitating fresh elections to be conducted by the INEC.

The vacant seats include that of the late Rep. Isa Dogonyaro, who represented the Garki/Babura Federal Constituency of Jigawa State and sadly passed away on May 10, 2024, in Abuja after a brief illness.

Also on the list is that of the late Rep. Ekene Adams, who represented the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency of Kaduna State under the Labour Party and tragically passed away on July 16, 2024, at the young age of 39.

Finally, the seat of the late Rep. Musiliudeen Akinremi, a two-term member of the House of Representatives representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency of Oyo State, who tragically passed away on July 10, 2024, at the age of 51 was declared vacant.