The member representing Bende North constituency Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Chijioke Chukwu has berated those calling on the President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan to declare vacant the Abia North Senatorial District seat, saying it is a show of ignorance of the law.
The Senator representing the district, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu was convicted by a federal high court in Lagos on charges bordering on fraud and embezzlement while serving as the Governor of the State between 1999-2007.
Hon. Chukwu in a chat with newsmen in Unuahia on Thursday said such call is alien to the constitutional provision.
According to the lawmaker, there is a caveat attached to the constitutional provision that if an elected lawmaker fails to sit within 182 days, his/her seat could be declared vacant.
He said conditions attached to this provision includes ill health and mental sickness.
He said since the Senator is challenging his conviction at a higher court, the call to declare his seat vacant is premature.
Hon. Chukwu said until all legal windows available to the Senator are exhausted, he remains a member of the senate.
“It is only when Supreme Court convicts him that that call for the declaration of his seat vacant can be allowed” he added.
He said Orji Kalu’s failure to perform his duties is circumstantial
He called on those behind such call to channel their energy to other useful ventures, saying it is unconstitutional.
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