Godswill Akpabio on Wednesday administered the oath of office to four newly elected senators following their victories in the recent bye-elections conducted by Independent National Electoral Commission.
The lawmakers are Olaka Nwogu of the Peoples Democratic Party representing Rivers South East; Envulu Anza of the All Progressives Congress for Nasarawa North; Ikeje Asogwu of the APC for Enugu North; and Dayo Faduyile of the APC representing Ondo South.
Their swearing-in followed the bye-elections held last Saturday to fill vacant seats across the four senatorial districts.
The Rivers South East seat became vacant after the death of former senator Barinada Mpigi, leading to Nwogu’s emergence.
In Nasarawa North, Anza succeeded the late Godiya Akwaashiki, while Asogwu replaced the late Okechukwu Ezea in Enugu North.
Faduyile’s election in Ondo South followed the appointment of Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
The Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, administered the Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office to the four senators during plenary.
Congratulating the lawmakers, Akpabio described the Senate as “a family of the most elite club in the world” and welcomed them to the Red Chamber.
He urged the new senators to remain focused on advancing national development, stressing that they now represent the Federal Republic of Nigeria rather than their political parties.
The Senate President also advised them to study the 1999 Constitution and the Senate Standing Orders, as amended in 2023, to effectively discharge their legislative responsibilities.
Among dignitaries present at the swearing-in ceremony were Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the Ondo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Kayode Ajulo, among others.
BACKSTORY…
The swearing-in of the four new senators follows the conduct of recent bye-elections organised by Independent National Electoral Commission to fill vacancies in the National Assembly.
The vacant seats emerged due to a mix of deaths and political appointments involving former lawmakers, creating the need for fresh elections in Rivers South East, Nasarawa North, Enugu North, and Ondo South.
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Bye-elections are a constitutional process in Nigeria used to ensure representation is maintained whenever a legislative seat becomes vacant before the end of a term. The latest exercise attracted attention as it reshaped the balance of party representation in the Senate, with the All Progressives Congress securing three of the four seats and the Peoples Democratic Party taking one.
Their inauguration by Godswill Akpabio officially restores full representation for the affected districts in the upper legislative chamber.
