By-Elections reshape Senate as four lawmakers assume office

President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has sworn in four newly elected senators following their victories in the by-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last Saturday.

The new senators are:
Senator Olaka Nwogu (PDP) – Rivers South East Senatorial District
Senator Envulu Anza (APC) – Nasarawa North Senatorial District
Senator Ikeje Asogwu (APC) – Enugu North Senatorial District
Senator Dayo Faduyile (APC) – Ondo South Senatorial District
The vacancies were created by the deaths of some former senators and the appointment of another to a government position.

The Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, administered the Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office to the lawmakers before they officially took their seats in the Senate chamber.

While welcoming them, Akpabio described the Senate as an elite institution and urged the new members to see themselves as representatives of all Nigerians, not just their political parties.

He advised them to study the 1999 Constitution and the Senate Standing Orders to help them perform their duties effectively.

The Rivers South East seat became vacant after the death of Senator Barinada Mpigi, while the Nasarawa North seat was left vacant following the death of Senator Godiya Akwashiki.

In Enugu North, the election was held after the death of Senator Okechukwu Ezea. The Ondo South seat became vacant when former Senator Jimoh Ibrahim was appointed Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Akpabio paid tribute to the deceased lawmakers and prayed that no more members of the Senate would die while in office.

He also thanked governors, deputy governors, traditional rulers, party leaders, and other dignitaries who attended the inauguration ceremony in support of the new senators.

With the outcome of the by-elections, the APC won three of the four seats, further strengthening its majority in the Senate, while the PDP secured one seat.
Following the inauguration, the current composition of the 10th Senate is:
APC – 88 seats
ADC – 9 seats
PDP – 5 seats
NDC – 4 seats
APGA – 1 seat
Accord – 1 seat
Labour Party – 1 seat
This brings the total number of senators to 109.