The Kogi State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, has formally declared the Dekina/Okura State Constituency seat vacant, paving the way for a bye-election following the death of its representative and former Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon. Enema Paul.
Speaking during the Assembly’s Tuesday plenary session, Speaker Yusuf stated that the declaration was in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which mandates the Assembly to declare a seat vacant upon the passing of a sitting member.
The Speaker has instructed the Clerk of the House, Alhaji Ahmed Chogudo, to notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to initiate the process for conducting a bye-election to fill the vacant seat.
Hon. Enema Paul, who was serving his second term as a lawmaker, passed away in Abuja on December 14 after a protracted illness. Born on August 27, 1978, Enema was 46 years old at the time of his death.
In his tribute, Speaker Yusuf described the late legislator as “a man of exceptional character whose contributions to the Assembly and his constituency will not be forgotten.” He noted that Enema’s passing has left a void not only in the House but also within the larger Kogi State community.
With the seat now officially declared vacant, INEC is expected to release a timetable for the bye-election, which will determine Enema Paul’s successor in the 8th Kogi State Assembly.
