The Senate on Wednesday swore in two newly elected senators, Joseph Ikpea and Emmanuel Nwachukwu, representing Edo Central and Anambra South senatorial districts, respectively.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio presided over the ceremony, while the clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Ojo, administered the oath of office and allegiance to the new lawmakers.

The swearing-in ceremony follows the recent by-elections conducted to fill two vacant Senate seats, one previously held by Monday Okpebholo, now the governor of Edo, and the other by the late Ifeanyi Ubah, who died in July 2024.

Mr Akpabio, in his remarks, congratulated the new senators and reminded them that they had been called to serve the nation.

He urged them to focus their representation on the generality of Nigerians and not their political parties.

Mr Akpabio urged them to imbibe the contents of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution as amended and the Senate Standing Rules to be acquainted with the workings of the Senate.

Mr Nwachukwu polled 90,408 votes to defeat his closest rival, Azuka Okwuosa, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 19,847 votes.

Mr Ikpea of the APC, on his part, was declared the winner of Saturday’s by-election for the Edo Central Senatorial District in Edo.

He polled 105,129 votes to defeat his closest rival, Joe Okojie of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 15,146 votes.

(NAN)