Finally, Senate Swears In Igbeke
ABUJA, May 25, (THEWILL) - It is now end of the road for Senator Joy Emodi as Senate today swore in Chief Alphonsus Igbeke of opposition All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to replace her as senator representing Anambra North in the Senate.
Igbeke is now to serve out the remaining one year before the end of the life of the present Senate as Emodi had occupied the Anambra North Seat meant for him for three out of the four years tenure of the present Senate. Igbeke will also serve another three years in the life circle of the Senate from 2011 before another senatorial election can be conducted in Anambra North.
His inauguration today came two months after an Appeal Court sitting in Enugu quashed Emodi’s election and ordered the Senate leadership to swear him in.
Senate had delayed Igbeke’s inauguration following its criticized resolve to wait for the appeal filed at the Supreme Court by Emordi.
Clerk of the Senate Ben Efeture led Igbeke through the oaths after which he took his seat on the minority wing in the Senate.
Senate leadership which earlier said it would not swear-in Igbeke until the appeal filed by Emordi at the Supreme Court to challenge the verdict of the Appeal Court is determined had to change its position following fears that there may be contempt proceedings against the Senate for refusal to obey the court.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and Media, Senator Ayogu Eze said the Senate changed its position following the advice of the Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, who was consulted on the matter by the leadership.
He said Adoke had observed that the upper house is duty bound to swear in Igbeke as long as there is no stay of execution on the orders of the Appeal Court.
The Attorney General Eze said stressed that a notice of appeal from Emodi is not enough for Senate to reject the order of the Appeal Court adding that the order subsists until over ruled by a superior court.
An elated Igbeke said he has forgiven his political opponents and pledged to perform his duties as Senator to the best of his ability.