Update: House Of Reps Unveils New Minority Leader

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has officially announced Hon. Fred Agbedi of Bayelsa State as the new Minority Leader of the 10th House of Representatives.

According to reports from the National Assembly, the announcement was made shortly after the commencement of Thursday’s plenary session, bringing an end to the uncertainty surrounding the minority leadership position.

In the new arrangement, Hon. Abdusamad Dasuki, representing Sokoto State, will serve as Deputy Minority Leader, while Hon. Mansur Manu Soro from Bauchi State has been appointed Minority Chief Whip.

Agbedi is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dasuki represents the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Soro belongs to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

The appointments came after a brief protest by opposition lawmakers at the National Assembly complex, where members insisted that the minority leadership issue be resolved before legislative proceedings could continue.

A video circulating online showed the lawmakers chanting, “No announcement, no sitting,” as they demanded the immediate confirmation of Agbedi as Minority Leader.

The protesting legislators, identified as members of the G-60 opposition caucus and led by Ikenga Imo-Ugochinyere, publicly endorsed Agbedi, who represents Sagbama-Ekeremor Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State, for the Minority Leader position. They also backed Abdusamad Dasuki, representing Kebbe-Tambuwal Federal Constituency of Sokoto State, for the role of Deputy Minority Leader.

The group maintained that plenary activities would remain stalled until the House leadership addressed the matter, a move that preceded the official announcement by Speaker Abbas and paved the way for the day’s legislative business to proceed.