Akpabio declares Ondo South seat vacant, orders fresh poll within 30 days

The Senate, on Tuesday, declared the seat of Senator Jimoh Ibrahim vacant.

Ibrahim, who represented Ondo South Senatorial District, vacated the position following his appointment as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations by President Bola Tinubu.

During plenary presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the upper chamber directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organise a by-election within 30 days to fill the vacancy.

Before leaving office, he chaired the Senate Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs.

He also took part in the 2024 Ondo State governorship primary under the All Progressives Congress (APC) but was defeated by Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who later emerged winner of the election.

Ibrahim attracted public attention in July 2024 when he claimed to have developed a mobile application capable of identifying the number of firearms within his area. He alleged at the time that more than 277 guns were located within the National Assembly and the Presidential Villa, although he did not disclose who owned them.

Following the declaration of the seat as vacant, focus has shifted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which is expected to release a timetable for the by-election, detailing key activities such as party primaries, campaign periods and the date for voting.

Political parties will first organise primaries to select their candidates, after which INEC will publish the final list of contestants and begin full preparations, including voter sensitisation, logistics arrangements and collaboration with security agencies.

On election day, voting will take place across polling units in the senatorial district, with results collated from the ward level through local governments and finally at the district collation centre.

The candidate who secures the highest number of valid votes will be declared the winner and issued a certificate of return as senator-elect.

The by-election is expected to guarantee continued representation for the people of Ondo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, the Senate also approved three key agricultural bills: the Nigeria Food Reserve Agency (Establishment) Bill, 2026; the National Cassava Policy Coordination Council Bill, 2026; and the National Rice Development Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2026.

Presenting the committee’s reports, Saliu Mustapha (Kwara Central), the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agricultural Production, Services and Rural Development, said the proposed laws are intended to strengthen food security nationwide.

In addition, the Senate passed for second reading a bill seeking to repeal the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (Establishment) Act, 2019 (as amended) and replace it with the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Act, 2026.

The executive bill is designed to provide modern equipment, enhanced training, and improved welfare for the Nigeria Police Force and address other related security matters.