Akin Samuel Kayode.
On Thursday, October 15, 2026, Nigeria was bleeding. Fuel was N1,200. Bandits were collecting tax in Zamfara. Floods were swallowing Bayelsa.
But inside the Senate chamber, the only emergency was one man’s job.
Tahir Monguno, Senator for Borno North — where his people cannot go to the farm because of Boko Haram — stood up and said:
“Insha Allah, majority of us will return. This seat is hereby declared: There is no vacancy. Including DSP, including principal officers.”
Cyril Fasuyi seconded it. Godswill Akpabio put it to voice vote. A few men shouted “Aye!” No one dared shout “Nay!” And Akpabio smiled: “That settles it.”
In five minutes, with one voice vote, a handful of men shared the future of 230 million people.
That is not democracy. That is a conspiracy. That is contempt.
WHO PROMISED YOU WILL RETURN?
Yes, you have collected your nomination forms. Yes, INEC has opened the campaign window.
But have you gone home?
Monguno, have you returned to Monguno, Marte and Nganzai to ask the IDPs if they will vote for you again?
Fasuyi, have you driven from Ikole to Oye on those failed roads to ask farmers why they should return you?
You collected forms in Abuja, but you have not collected the people’s endorsement.
You have form but no favour. Paper but no people. Ticket but no trust.
Yet you want to turn that Abuja paper into an automatic third term for Akpabio?
This is the textbook definition of shenanigans — political 419.
A Senate rated below 12% by Nigerians declaring “no vacancy” for itself is not confidence. It is shameless.
WHAT DID YOU DO TO DESERVE NO VACANCY?
Tell us. What has this 10th Senate done to deserve continuity?
You approved N150 million SUVs for yourselves and N8,000 palliatives for Nigerians.
You padded the budget with over N6 trillion for projects that never leave Abuja.
You screened ministers in two minutes — even those who could not recite the second stanza of the national anthem.
You turned the Red Chamber into a comedy club. “Let the poor breathe,” you laughed, while the poor suffocated.
Show Nigerians one law you passed that reduced the price of rice. One law that stopped kidnapping on Abuja-Kaduna road. One law that gave one hour of extra electricity.
You have none.
No vacancy for what? For failure? For betrayal? For luxury in the midst of hunger?
YOU FEAR YOUR COLLEAGUES, NOT THE PEOPLE.
Let us tell the truth. This voice vote was not about loyalty. It was about fear.
You heard Hope Uzodimma wants to leave Owerri and come for Akpabio’s seat. You heard Adams Oshiomhole is measuring the chair. You heard Abdulaziz Yari is waiting by the door.
You fear a real contest, so you want to kill it one year before it starts.
It is the same script your presidential candidate is reading: “I will not be physically present in all states.” Power without presence. Crown without campaign. Leadership without labour.
But Section 50(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution is clear: “There shall be a President and Deputy President of the Senate who shall be ELECTED by the members.”
Elected. Not declared. Not endorsed. Not voice-voted in 2026 for an election in 2027.
Your declaration is unconstitutional. It is null, void, and of no effect. It is mere noise.
Even your own colleague, Ali Ndume, said he was not in the chamber when you did it. You gave no numbers. No roll call. No record. Just “Aye!”
That is not the Senate. That is a town union meeting.
WE, THE PEOPLE, DECLARE VACANCY FOR YOU.
So we reply to you:
If you declare no vacancy for Akpabio without performance, we the people declare no vacancy for you in our hearts.
If you say Akpabio must return without a contest, we say you will not return with the contest.
You forget that January 16, 2027 will not be decided by your “Aye” inside the chamber. It will be decided by our anger outside.
You shout “Aye” for Akpabio. We shout “Enough is enough.”
In 2027, while your President says he will not be physically present to the campaign, we will be physically present in all 176,846 polling units to retire you.
October 15, 2026 will be remembered as the day the Senate chose itself over Nigeria.
You declared no vacancy for shame. We declare vacancy for justice.
And justice will prevail.
Akin Samuel Kayode.
Member, The Narrative Force.
