Finally, Jarigbe sworn in as Cross River north senator

Jarigbe Jarigbe, a former house of representatives member, has been sworn in as the senator representing Cross River north.

The oath of office was administered on him on the floor of the senate on Wednesday.

The seat became vacant when Rose Oko, who held the position, died. Oko won the seat in the 2019 general election.

A bye-election was conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in December 2020 and Stephen Odey, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate at the time, was declared winner of the election.

But Jarigbe went to court, arguing that he was the right candidate of the PDP having scored the highest number of votes in the party’s primary election.

On February 25, the supreme court upheld the judgment of the court of appeal which declared Jarigbe as the authentic candidate of the PDP.

In a split decision, the apex court dismissed the appeal filed by Odey who had been declared winner of the senatorial rerun by INEC.

At this time, Odey was already sworn in as the senator representing the senatorial district.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan administered the oath of office on Jarigbe — eight months after the matter was laid to rest at the apex court.