Four new senators take oath of office

The four senators won the by-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last Saturday in their respective constituencies.

The newly elected senators representing Ondo South and Enugu North Senatorial Districts, Dayo Faduyile and Ikeje Asogwa, respectively, have been inaugurated as members of the 10th Senate.

Danladi Envulu-Anza, elected in the Nasarawa North Senatorial District by-election, and Olaka Nwogu, who won the Rivers South-East Senatorial District election, were also inaugurated.

The four lawmakers were sworn in during plenary on Thursday.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, directed the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, to administer the oath of office to the new senators at about 12.30 p.m.

After swearing in, the lawmakers exchanged handshakes and pleasantries with the Senate President and their colleagues before being escorted to their seats by the Sergeant-at-Arms.

Mr Faduyile, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), succeeded Jimoh Ibrahim, who was appointed Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Mr Asogwa, also of the APC, replaced Okechukwu Ezea, who died in November 2025 after a brief illness.

Mr Envulu-Anza, another APC lawmaker, succeeded Godiya Akwashiki, who died in December 2025 after a prolonged illness.

Mr Nwogu, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), replaced Barinada Mpigi, who died in February 2026 after a prolonged illness.

The four senators won the by-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last Saturday in their respective constituencies.

With their inauguration, the Senate has now attained its full complement of 109 members. The APC now holds 88 seats in the Senate, while the PDP has five senators. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has nine members; the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has four; and the Labour Party, Accord Party, and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) have one senator each.

Mr Akpabio congratulated the lawmakers on their electoral victories and welcomed them to the Senate. He urged them first to study the Senate Standing Rules thoroughly before contributing to debates, motions, or other proceedings to avoid breaching the rules of the chamber.