By George OPARA
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday administered the oath of office to four newly elected senators following their victories in the recent by-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The lawmakers sworn-in at plenary were Olaka Nwogu, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Rivers South-East; Envulu Anz, All Progressives Congress, Nasarawa North; Ikeje Asogwu, APC, Enugu North; and Dayo Faduyile, APC, Ondo South.
Spear News Nigeria recalls that the by-elections were held last Saturday to fill vacancies created by deaths and appointments in the affected senatorial districts.
Nwogu is filling the Rivers South-East seat which became vacant after the death of the former senator, Barinada Mpigi, while Anza succeeded late Godiya Akwashiki in Nasarawa North.
Asogwa replaced the late Okechukwu Ezea in Enugu North. Faduyile filled the vacancy left by former senator Jimoh Ibrahim after his appointment as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
INEC had presented certificates of return to the newly elected lawmakers on Tuesday.
Officiating the Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office on Wednesday, Clerk of the Senate Emmanuel Odo formally ushered the new senators into the Red Chamber.
At the inauguration, Akpabio congratulated the lawmakers on their electoral victories and urged them to place national interest above partisan considerations in the discharge of their duties.
He described the Senate as “a family of the most elite club in the world,” stressing that the lawmakers now represent the Federal Republic of Nigeria rather than their political parties.
Akpabio also encouraged the new senators to acquaint themselves with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Senate Standing Orders, as amended in 2023, to enable them to effectively carry out their legislative responsibilities.
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