Saraki swears in Adeleke as senator

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has administered the oath of office on Senator Ademola Adeleke, in the chamber, before yesterday’s plenary.

Adeleke, who represents Osun West senatorial district, took over from his brother, Isiaka, who died in April 2017.

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senator, Adeleke defeated Mudashiru Hussein of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in a by-election on Saturday, July 8. He polled a total of 97,480 votes to defeat Hussain who secured 66,116 votes.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) presented him with a Certificate of Return on Monday.

Adeleke, who defected from the APC to PDP, to contest the by-election, said the ruling party in his state does not practise democracy.

“I used to be in the PDP, but, I am back home now. My interest was in APC, but, it was when I got there, we discovered that they don’t practise democracy.”

Reacting to Adeleke being sworn in as Senator, Saraki said on a post on his Facebook page:

“I was filled with emotions today as I swore in the brother of late senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke as senator representing Osun West. I’m sure that my late friend, his family, good people of Ede and Osun West senatorial district are delighted that the legacy of ‘Guv’ can continue.

“I am sure my departed colleague will, in his grave, be happy and filled with joy today and always.

“My only sadness is that senator Ademola Adeleke is not coming in as an APC member. This is the result of mishandling of the pre-election matters by our party. I hope senator Ademola Adeleke will very soon return to his natural fold, the APC, where he rightly belongs.

“I hope this development will serve as eye opener to our party, at all levels, that the will of the people must always be respected. We all have a good lesson to learn from this.

Once again, I congratulate senator Ademola Adeleke and I hope he will live up to his brother’s expectations and further uplift the legacy established by their late father, senator Ayoola Adeleke.”

With Adeleke’s inauguration, PDP now has 43 members against APC’s 65. The seat of Anambra Central senatorial district is yet to be filled in the chamber.