Imo North: Araraume, Ibezim missing as Lawan inaugurates new senators

Fails to swear in Governor Ayade’s former legislative aide as a Senator By Henry Umoru THE
Senate on Tuesday swore in the immediate senators elected during the December 5 by-election in 15 districts of 11 states without inaugurating any senator for Imo North.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the election, but without returning any candidate.

This followed conflicting judgments from a federal High Court and Court of Appeal in Imo state over the authentic candidate of the party for the election.

Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and frank Ibezim are both laying claim to being the candidate of the party, but a federal high court had disqualified Ibezim and recognized Araraume as a candidate, while the appellate court returned Ibezim and rejected Araraume as the candidate.

Also in the same boat with Araraume and Ibezim is the Senator-elect for Cross River North Senatorial District, Stephen Odey.

Odey, who had arrived the National Assembly complex as early as 8 am with supporters from Cross River State in anticipation for the swearing-in, was however disappointed when his name was not mentioned as one of those to take the oath of office. Odey was the Senior Legislative Aide, SLA to Governor Ben Ayade as a Senator in the 7th Senator.

However those inaugurated were past Governor of Bayelsa State, Henry Seriake Dickson, who won the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, ticket for Bayelsa West, Moses Cleopas, PDP, Bayelsa Central; Adetokunboh Abiru, All Progressives Congress, APC, Lagos East and Professor Nora Dabu’t, APC, Plateau South.
The oath of office and allegiance were administered Thursday on Senator Olujimi by the Clerk of the Senate, Ibrahim El- Ladan during plenary.

With their inauguration, APC now have 63 senators Senators while PDP now has 45 Senators.
Senator Seriake replaced Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo; Senator Cleopas is replacing Senator Diri Douye; Senator Abiru replacing late Adebayo Osinowo and Dadu’t is replacing late Ignatius Longjan.