Appointment of minority leader and other key officers in the minority political parties has set the House of Representatives on fire again, as members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), rose to challenge the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila.
An eye witness said that the PDP members had wanted Kingsley Chinda, a PDP lawmaker from Rivers, to be appointed as minority leader, but that the Speaker went on to announce Ndidi Elumelu as the minority leader.
It was learnt that the leadership of the PDP had earlier written to the speaker, listing Chinda as minority leader, Chukwuka Onyema as deputy minority leader; Yakubu Barde, minority whip and Muraina Ajibola, deputy minority whip.
It was gathered that the Speaker, instead set aside the list forwarded by the PDP on the grounds that the PDP alone did not represent all minority political parties in the house. He then went ahead to read a letter signed by 99 members of minority political parties in the house on the preferred persons for the various positions.
The speaker then announced Ndidi Elumelu as minority leader, Toby Okechukwu as deputy minority leader, Gideon Gwani as minority whip and Adesegun Adekoya as deputy minority whip.
It was gathered that after the announcement, some of the lawmakers began to fight each other while some dived for the mace but were prevented from seizing it.
The Speaker has adjourned the house’s plenary to tomorrow, Thursday, July 4.
