Ugochinyere pledges support as Reps name Agbedi minority leader

From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

The House of Representatives has named the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) caucus, Fredrick Agbedi, as new minority leader.

At plenary yesterday, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, named Agbedi, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker representing Ekeremo/Sagbama federal constituency in Bayelsa, as the minority leader.

He also announced Abdussamad Dasuki, a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) representing Kebbe/Tambuwal federal constituency of Sokoto, as deputy minority leader.

Mansur Manu Soro of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), who represents Darazo/Ganjuwa federal constituency of Bauchi, was named as the minority whip.

The speaker said the minority caucus unanimously nominated the lawmakers for the positions.

Abbas said the leadership of the house would “work assiduously” with the newly appointed officers to achieve the legislative objectives of the green chamber.

The appointment of Agbedi brings to an end the contestation over the position of the minority leader, following the resignation of the member representing Obi/Akpor Federal Constituency of Rivers State, Kingsley Chinda, from the position.

In the aftermath of Chinda’s resignation, 61 members of the minority caucus had nominated the member representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State, Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, as his replacement.

However, the nomination was trailed by controversy with the Deputy House spokesman,  Philip Agbese, who was listed as one of the 61 members, who nominated Ugochinyere, denying  that he did not sign the nomination.

While Ugochinyere’s supporters insisted there was no going back on his nomination, those opposed  to them argued that Order Seven Rule states that only members with cognate experience can be principal officers.

However, in a twist, the House, on Wednesday, adopted a resolution barring first time members from occupying principal officers position.The resolution effectively stalled Ugochinyere’s ambition to serve as minority leader.

Meanwhile, Ugochinyere, in a letter addressed to the speaker, and dated June 10, on behalf of the G-60 Minority Lawmakers, formally withdrew his nomination for the position of minority leader.

The Imo lawmaker, while pledging the support of the G-60 to the minority caucus and the entire House, hinged the withdrawal on the amendment of the House Rules, which makes him ineligible to contest for the minority leader position.