INEC Presents Certificates Of Return To Senators-Elect

INEC has presented certificates of return to the Senators-elect.

Glamtush reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Tuesday, issued Certificates of Return to winners of the February 25, senatorial election.

INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, presented the certificates to the senators-elect at the National Collation Centre, Abuja.

Yakubu had, on Saturday, said winners were declared for 423 legislative seats, indicating that supplementary elections would be conducted in 46 other constituencies.

The elected legislators are 98, as seven parties won in the Senate.

The members-elect for the House of Representatives are expected to receive their Certificates of Return on Wednesday at the same venue.

In terms of party representation for the 10th Assembly, the INEC chair said the APC won 57 Senate seats; the PDP, 29; LP, six; SDP, two; NNPP, two; YPP, one; and APGA, one.

Some of the senators-elect include Kalu Uzor (APC/Abia North), Godswill Akpabio (APC/Akwa Ibom Northwest); Ifeanyi Ubah (YPP/Anambra South); Seriake Dickson (PDP/Bayelsa West); Adams Oshiomhole, (APC/Edo North), among others.

Speaking to journalists, Oshiomole said he was ready to work for the people, stating that the Senate would not be a rubber-stamped Assembly.

Oshiomole said, “All my life I have been the voice of the people; I spoke and worked for the people. I want to be part of the Senate that legislates for the good number of our countrymen and not the powerful. It will not be worth it if I just go to the Senate and collect a monthly allowance.

“There is a lot we all can do differently. There are a lot of policies and laws that can benefit from reviews so that the new agenda of our party can be translated into reality.

“I am sure that even the President-elect will look forward to not a rubber-stamp Assembly but one that can help to contribute ideas to enrich knowledge.”

When asked to name some of the people-oriented laws that he would be pushing, Oshiomhole said “Those issues are very well captured in the APC plan of actions which formed the basis of the election of the President-elect. We will revisit the power sector for us to have sustainable economic growth.

“The current challenge in the power sector is that it favoured family and friends who know nothing about power distribution.

“The consumer must be protected. There are a couple of things we need to do differently. I still see long queues and anytime I see such queues, I am troubled because I fought against these policies when I was President of NLC. We need to take some radical decisions.”

Also, Abba Moro from Benue South said he would work with senators re-elected to elect a competent and patriotic Senate President as Nigerians believe more in the Assembly.

A re-elected senator from Ekiti Central, Bamidele Opeyemi, said the opportunity given to him by his people was further strengthening the works he had started for his people.

He said, “The 9th Senate where I was opportune to serve was one that we saw as a session where we need to break new grounds and there is no doubt that the 10th Senate is supposed to be a Senate of consolidation where we will be able to further strengthen the programs that we started at the 9th Senate.”