The Nigerian Senate has sworn in Augustine Akobundu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to replace Darlington Nwokocha of the Labour Party (LP) as senator representing Abia Central.
Akobundu, a former organising secretary of the PDP and minister of state for defence, was sworn in during plenary on Wednesday.
A court of appeal sitting in Lagos had sacked Nwokocha, who is also the Senate minority whip, declaring Akobundu as the winner of the February 25 national assembly election.
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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Nwokocha as the winner of the election with a total of 92,116 votes. Akobundu came second with 41,477 votes.
Dissatisfied, Akobundu filed a petition before the election petition tribunal to challenge Nwokocha’s victory, but his appeal was rejected.
However, he persisted in his efforts and went to the appellate court, where he emerged victorious.
