Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio, has sworn in four newly elected senators who emerged victorious in the recent by-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The new lawmakers are Senator Olaka Nwogu (PDP, Rivers South East), Senator Envulu Anza (APC, Nasarawa North), Senator Ikeje Asogwu (APC, Enugu North), and Senator Dayo Faduyile (APC, Ondo South).
Their inauguration followed the by-elections held last Saturday to fill vacant seats in the four senatorial districts.
The Rivers South-East seat became vacant following the death of Senator Barinada Mpigi, paving the way for the election of Senator Nwogu.
In Nasarawa North, Senator Anza emerged after the death of Senator Godiya Akwaashiki, while Senator Asogwu succeeded the late Senator Okechukwu Ezea in Enugu North.
For Ondo South, Senator Faduyile’s emergence followed the appointment of former Senator Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, which created the vacancy.
Akpabio urged them to remain focused on initiatives that would advance national development, encouraging them to place national interest above partisan considerations.
The Senate President also advised the new members to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Senate standing orders as amended in 2023, to guide their legislative responsibilities.
Following the swearing in, the Senate has now reached its full constitutional membership of 109 senators.
Current party composition:
All Progressives Congress (APC) – 88,
African Democratic Congress (ADC) – 9,
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – 5,
NDC – 4,
All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) – 1,
Accord – 1,
Labour Party (LP) – 1.
Earlier, INEC had presented certificates of return to the senators.
The INEC chairman, Joash Amupitan, was represented by Supervising National Commissioner, May Agbamuche-Mbu, for Rivers State, who was supervising the presentation of the certificates.
In her remarks, Agbamuche-Mbu congratulated the winners and urged them to serve their constituents diligently, saying the most important responsibility is to represent the people well