Why Saraki should swear me in as senator — Etim

Aformer member of the House of Representatives, Bassey Etim, yesterday said he was not happy over the inability of the Senate to swear him as senator more than two months after his triumph at the court.

A Federal High Court sitting in Uyo had sacked Senator Bassey Albert Akpan from the National Assembly on the grounds that he did not participate in the primary election for the Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District conducted by the PDP ahead of the 2015 election.

Instead, the court said Etim, who won the primaries, should be sworn-in immediately and INEC had already issued him a certificate of return.

In a telephone interview with our correspondent yesterday, Etim urged the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to respect the precedence set by the 8th Assembly.

“I’m still in shock that up till now the Senate president has not sworn me in because I got the judgement since February 27 this year and my lawyer had forwarded the judgement to the Senate president in writing.

“What even surprises me further is that precedence has been set by the Senate in swearing in about three members that have judgements in pre-election matters. The recent is the one for Kogi East in which Senator Isaac Alfa was sworn in based on a Federal High Court order after the election.

“However, after the Court of Appeal gave an injunction in favour of Atai Aidoko, he was sworn in without much delay. At present, Senator Alfa is at the Supreme Court.

“I met with the Senate president last week Tuesday and that was my fifth meeting with him on the issue and while I was talking to him, former Governor (Godswill) Akpabio walked in and told him (Saraki) not to swear me in, threatening that he will resign.

“Yes, in a pre-election matter, you’ve right of appeal which he (Senator Akpan) has done in Calabar but that does not mean my swearing in should be delayed. If he wins tomorrow, I will not run away; he can come and take the seat, I would definitely pack my things and leave even though I know he’ll not win because he contested for governorship and not Senate,” he said.