By Peter Omopo
The Senate on Wednesday welcomed four new lawmakers into the Red Chamber following their victories in the recent by-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The new senators, representing Rivers South East, Nasarawa North, Enugu North and Ondo South Senatorial Districts, were formally sworn in during plenary by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
The lawmakers are Olaka Nwogu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Envulu Anza of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ikeje Asogwu of the APC, and Dayo Faduyile of the APC.
The swearing-in ceremony filled vacancies that emerged following the deaths of former senators Barinada Mpigi, Godiya Akwaashiki and Okechukwu Ezea. The Ondo South seat became vacant after the appointment of former Senator Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
Administering the oath of office, Akpabio congratulated the newly elected lawmakers and urged them to place national interest above partisan considerations in the discharge of their legislative responsibilities.
The Senate President also encouraged the new members to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the Constitution and the Senate Standing Orders to enable them contribute effectively to legislative proceedings and national development.
Their inauguration restores full representation to the affected senatorial districts and marks the completion of the process to fill the vacancies created in the upper legislative chamber.
