Akpabio administers oaths of office to four freshly elected lawmakers following special polls

On Wednesday, President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio administered the oath of office to four newly elected senators, who had emerged victorious in the recent by-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission. These lawmakers include Olaka Nwogu of the Peoples Democratic Party, Envulu Anza of the All Progressives Congress, Ikeje Asogwu of the APC, and Dayo Faduyile of the APC.

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Their inauguration was a direct result of the by-elections held last Saturday, which aimed to fill vacancies in the four senatorial districts, namely Rivers South-East, Nasarawa North, Enugu North, and Ondo South.

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The vacancy in Rivers South-East arose due to the death of former senator Barinada Mpigi, while Envulu Anza's emergence as senator for Nasarawa North followed the death of Godiya Akwashiki.

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Ikeje Asogwu succeeded the late Okechukwu Ezea, and Dayo Faduyile filled the vacancy created by the appointment of former senator Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

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INEC presented certificates of return to the new senators on Tuesday, as reported by PUNCH Online.

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The Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, was responsible for administering the Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office to the four lawmakers during the plenary session.

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Senate President Godswill Akpabio welcomed the new senators to the Red Chamber, congratulating them on their election and urging them to prioritize national interest in their legislative duties.

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Akpabio reminded the lawmakers that they now represent the Federal Republic of Nigeria, rather than their respective political parties, and described the Senate as “a family of the most elite club in the world”.

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The Senate President advised the new lawmakers to familiarize 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 responsibilities.

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Notable dignitaries present at the swearing-in ceremony included Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Kayode Ajulo.