Four new senators take oath after by-elections

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday swore in four newly elected senators following their victories in the recent by-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The lawmakers are Ikeje Asogwa of the All Progressives Congress, representing Enugu North Senatorial District; Olaka Nwogu of the Peoples Democratic Party, representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District; Dayo Faduyile of the APC, representing Ondo South Senatorial District; and Danladi Envulu-Anza of the APC, representing Nasarawa North Senatorial District.

Their inauguration followed the by-elections held last Saturday to fill vacancies in the four senatorial districts.

Each of the new senators was accompanied by delegations from their respective states.

Among the dignitaries present at the ceremony were the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Enugu State Deputy Governor, Ifeanyi Ossai, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kayode Ajulo, and Managing Director of Nasarawa State University, Emmanuel Dandaura, among others.

Calling for the swearing-in ceremony during plenary, Akpabio welcomed the guests and the newly elected lawmakers to the Red Chamber.

He said, “May I call on the Senate to observe the swearing-in ceremony of our distinguished colleagues. Let me welcome His Excellency, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State from the Niger Delta. Welcome to the chamber. We are happy to have you.

“Did you hear what I just said? I said the Niger Delta (laugh). I also welcome the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr Kayode Ajulo. You are welcome to the chamber. We only see you on television.

“While welcoming our colleagues to the chamber, we pray that God Almighty rest in peace the souls of those who have departed. We also pray that nobody in this chamber should lose their life.

“I congratulate the APC for winning three seats and the Peoples Democratic Party for winning one seat,” he said.

The Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, subsequently administered the Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office on the four lawmakers.

The Enugu North Senatorial District seat became vacant following the death of Okey Ezea on November 18, 2025, at the age of 62.

In the by-election, Asogwa polled 162,360 votes to defeat PDP candidate Nestor Ezeme, who secured 9,299 votes.

In Rivers South-East, Nwogu emerged victorious after polling 47,961 votes to defeat APC candidate Osar Erewari, who scored 1,647 votes.

The election was conducted to fill the vacancy created by the death of former senator Barry Mpigi earlier this year.

For Ondo South, Faduyile won the APC ticket and subsequently the by-election with 68,474 votes, defeating Adeolu Akinwunmi of the Allied People’s Movement, who polled 1,411 votes.

The seat became vacant following the appointment of Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

In Nasarawa North, Envulu-Anza secured 45,362 votes to emerge as the winner of the by-election. Labour Party candidate Labaran Maku scored 12,931 votes, while PDP candidate Emmanuel David Ombugadu polled 11,570 votes.

The by-election was conducted across Nasarawa Eggon, Akwanga and Wamba local government areas to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Godiya Akwashiki after a prolonged illness.

The inauguration of the four senators restores full representation to the affected senatorial districts and slightly alters the numerical composition of political parties in the 10th Senate, with the APC strengthening its majority after securing three of the four seats contested.