President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has declared the Ondo South Senatorial seat vacant following the appointment of Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Akpabio announced the development during Tuesday’s plenary, stating that the vacancy takes immediate effect in line with constitutional provisions.

He directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a by-election within 30 days to fill the vacant seat.

Under the 1999 Constitution, the National Assembly is required to notify INEC of any vacancy to trigger the electoral process.

Ibrahim, who represented Ondo South on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, was recently accredited in New York after presenting his Letter of Credence to UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

His accreditation formally marks the commencement of his role as Nigeria’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the UN.

During the ceremony, Ibrahim conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s goodwill and commended the UN leadership for its role in addressing global challenges.

He also highlighted Africa’s contributions within the UN system and reiterated the call for a permanent African seat on the UN Security Council, describing it as vital for strengthening global peace and security.