The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has officially announced Hon. Fred Agbedi from Bayelsa as the new Minority Leader of the 10th House of Representatives.
Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen announced the new principal officers moments after settling down for the day’s business.
Also appointed is Sokoto State lawmaker, Abdusamad Dasuki, who will serve as Deputy Minority Leader. Bauchi State representative, Mansur Manu Soro, has been named Minority Chief Whip.
Fred Agbedi is from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while Mansur Manu belongs to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Abdusamad Dasuki represents the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The announcement followed a mild drama on Thursday at the National Assembly as opposition members of the House of Reps insisted on the declaration of Fred Agbedi as the Minority Leader of the House.
The lawmakers, who gathered at the lobby, insisted that the day’s plenary would not go ahead unless Agbedi is announced as the Minority Leader.
A trending video captured the lawmakers chanting ‘no announcement, no sitting.’
The protesting members were identified as the G-60 opposition caucus in the House of Representatives.
The group, led by Ikenga Imo-Ugochinyere, threw their weight behind the member representing Sagbama-Ekeremor Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State, Fred Agbedi, as Minority Leader and Abdusammad Dasuki, representing Kebbe-Tambuwal Federal Constituency of Sokoto State, as Deputy Minority Leader.
The lawmakers stormed plenary on Thursday, demanding that the House leadership address the minority leadership position, arguing that failure to do so will result in plenary proceedings being put on hold.
