By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Kogi State House of Assembly on Tuesday sworn in Hon. Hassan Shado Musa as the new member representing Okura State Constituency in Dekina Local Government Area.
The swearing-in ceremony took place during the Assembly’s first plenary session after its legislative recess, presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, at the Assembly complex in Lokoja.
Hon. Shado Musa emerged victorious in the recent by-election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to fill the seat left vacant by the late Rt. Hon. Enema Paul, who represented Okura Constituency in the 8th Assembly until his demise.
The Clerk of the House, Alhaji Ahmed Chogudo, administered the oath of office, officially inducting the new lawmaker into the legislative chamber. With his swearing-in, the Assembly now has its full complement of 25 members.
In his remarks, Speaker Aliyu Umar Yusuf congratulated Hon. Shado on his election victory and urged him to serve his constituents with dedication, humility, and responsibility.
“I have no doubt that Hon. Shado will be a positive addition to this Assembly. He has demonstrated humility and eagerness to learn since his election, and I believe he will rise to the expectations of his people and contribute meaningfully to our legislative work,” the Speaker said.
The Speaker also commended the people of Okura Constituency for their continued faith in the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing their overwhelming support in the by-election as a reaffirmation of confidence in Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s leadership and the APC-led administration in Kogi State.
He called on lawmakers to remain committed to their core responsibilities of lawmaking, representation, and oversight, emphasizing the need to prioritize the welfare of their constituents.
“Our duty is to make laws that improve the lives of our people and provide effective oversight that ensures accountability in governance,” he added.
Hon. Yusuf further lauded Governor Ododo’s administration for sustaining people-oriented policies, noting that such initiatives have strengthened governance and deepened public trust in the APC.
In his response, Hon. Hassan Shado Musa expressed gratitude to God, his constituents, and the Assembly leadership for the warm reception. He pledged to represent the people of Okura Constituency with integrity, commitment, and teamwork, assuring that he would work closely with colleagues to advance the state’s development.