Human Right Lawyers and Civil Society Alliance have asked the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, to immediately swear-in a former Member of the House of Representatives, Bassey Etim, as the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District.
Etim and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Gas, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, have been laying claim to the seat since the Uyo Federal High Court ruled in favour of Etim.
The court said Etim, who won the primaries, should be sworn-in immediately and INEC had already issued him a certificate of return.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, Barrister Ojo Gabriel urged Saraki to swear-in Etim.
“We are appalled by the fact that the Senate leadership is not only disobeying the court order but encouraging double standard in the red chamber, which is supposed to carry the integrity of our democratic hope,” the group said.