The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has declared the seat of Dennis Idahosa, Deputy Governor of Edo State, vacant.

The decision was announced on Wednesday during a plenary session after Abbas read a letter from Julius Ihonvbere, the Majority Leader of the House.

The declaration is in line with Section 68(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates that a member of the National Assembly vacates their seat if they assume executive roles such as President, Vice President, Governor, Deputy Governor, Minister, Commissioner, or Special Adviser.

“This decision aligns with constitutional provisions, specifically Section 68(1), which clearly outlines the conditions under which a National Assembly member must relinquish their seat,” Abbas said.

Before assuming his role as Deputy Governor, Idahosa represented the Ovia North-East/Ovia South-West Federal Constituency of Edo State in the House of Representatives. His move to the Edo State executive arm followed the recently concluded governorship elections.

With the declaration of Idahosa’s seat vacant, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to conduct a bye-election to fill the vacancy.

In a related development, the Senate officially declared the Edo Central senatorial seat vacant following the emergence of Monday Okpebholo as the Governor of Edo State.

The seat was declared vacant on Wednesday during a plenary presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.