Akpabio Swears in Three Newly Elected Senators, As Senate Meets Service Chiefs, Others

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday, presided over the swearing-in of three newly elected senators.

Those sworn in during the plenary were Professor Anthony Okorie (All Progressives Congress, Ebonyi South), Mustapha Musa (All Progressives Congress, Yobe East), and Prince Pam Mwadkon (Action Democratic Party, Plateau North)

On the ground to administer the oath of office was the Clerk of the Senate, Mr. Chinedu Akubueze at about 11:41 am.

After their swearing-in, the new lawmakers were thereafter led to their respective seats.

During the plenary, the upper chamber also went into close-door meeting with the service chiefs owing to the worsening security situation in the country.

Those in the meeting include Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi.

Others are the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Finance and Coordinating for the Economy, Dr. Olawale Edun, Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam and Minister of State for Police Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.

Aside from security issues, the lawmakers are also concerned about Nigeria’s economy. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun was in the Senate chamber with the lawmakers.

Briefing the invitees, Akpabio said the invitation became necessary following several petitions by the lawmakers’ constituents.