We Cannot Declare Orji Kalu’s Seat Vacant Yet ― Senate

Posted by: Folamidavid in Politics, News Dec 9, 2019

The seat of the jailed senator, Orji Uzor Kalu representing Abia North has been declared intact by the Senate. The politician was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for corruption recently.

According to Senate spokesperson, Senator Godiya Akwashiki, Kalu’s seat is retained until he has used up every legal option to prove that he is not guilty.

Godiya said that the Nigerian constitution does not permit the arm of the National Assembly to declare the seat of any senator still facing trial or convicted by a lower court, vacant.

His words, “The Senate has no reason to declare his seat vacant. This is not the first time that such a thing would happen.

“There is no provision in the constitution that says the seat of any senator facing prosecution or convicted at a lower court should be declared vacant.

“He still has the opportunity to appeal the case.”

Do you agree?

Orji Uzor Kalu was born in April 21, 1960 to the family of Mr. Johnson Uzor Nesiegbe Kalu and Mrs Eunice Kalu. He is the chairman of SLOK Holding and the Daily Sun and New Telegraph newspapers in Nigeria, who served as the governor of Abia State, Nigeria from May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2007. Prior to his election, he served as the chairman of the Borno Water Board and the chairman of the Cooperative and Commerce Bank Limited. Kalu was also a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) and the chairman of the PPA Board of Trustees. He was the party’s presidential candidate in the April 2007 general election. He is currently a member of the ruling party after he officially announced his resignation as a PPA BOT.

Orji Uzor Kalu contested in the 2019 Nigerian general election to represent the people of Abia North in the senate, running under the banner of All Progressives Congress. He defeated the incumbent senator Mao Ohuabunwa with over 10,000 votes.

Kalu attended Christ the King School Aba and Government College Umuahia. After studying at Barewa College, Zaria, he enrolled in the University of Maiduguri where he studied political science. During his time at the university, Kalu became a student activist, and participated in the “Ali Must Go” riots against the education minister. His participation resulted in his suspension.