51.(1) In the event of the occurrence of any vacancy in the office of the President by reason of his death, resignation, or removal, or when the President is unable to discharge his functions owing to absence, illness or any other cause, his functions shall be discharged by the Vice- President until the date on which a new President elected in accordance with the provisions of this chapter to fill such vacancy enters upon his office or until the date on which the President resumes his duties, as the case may be.

(2) The Vice-President shall be elected by the members of both Houses of the Federal Parliament assembled at a joint meeting in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote and the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot.

(3) The Vice-President shall, subject to the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 64, be the ex-officio Chairman of the Council of States and shall not hold any other office or position of emolument.

(4) The Vice-President shall not be a member either of the Federal Parliament or of the Legislature of any unit and if a member of the Federal Parliament or of the Legislature of any unit be elected Vice-President, he shall be deemed to have vacated his seat in the Federal Parliament or such Legislature, as the case may be, on the date on which he enters upon his office as Vice-President.

(5) No person shall be eligible for election as Vice-President unless he-

(a) is a citizen of the Federation

(b) has completed the age of thirty-five years, and

(c) is qualified for election as a member of the Council of States

(6) A person shall not be eligible for election as Vice-President if he holds any office or position of emolument under the Federal Government or the Government of any unit or under any local or other authority subject to the control of either Government.

(7) The Vice-President shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office;

(a) a Vice-President may, by writing under his hand addressed to the President, resign his office;

(b) a Vice-President may be removed from his office by a resolution of the Council of States passed by a majority of all the then members of the Council and agreed to by the House of the People, but no resolution for the purpose of this clause shall be moved unless at least fourteen days’ notice has been given of the intention to move the resolution;

(c) a Vice-President shall, notwithstanding the expiration of his term, continue to hold office until his successor enters upon his office.

(8) An election to fill the vacancy occurring at the end of the term of office of a Vice-President shall be held before the date of expiration of the term.

(9) An election to fill a vacancy occurring by reason of the death, resignation or removal of a Vice-President shall be held as soon as possible after the occurrence of the vacancy, and the person elected to fill such vacancy shall be entitled to hold office for the full term of five years as provided in sub-section (7).