Hon. Soro, Agbede, Dasuki Endorsed As New Nigeria’s Reps Minority Caucus Leaders, Principal Officers

The Nigerian House of Representatives has formally endorsed a new set of leaders for the Minority Caucus following the resignation of key opposition leaders.

Speaker of the House, Hon. Abbas Tajuddeen, announced the appointments during plenary on Thursday after reading a letter from the Minority Caucus members on the nomination which they said was unanimously agreed.

The newly endorsed Minority Caucus Principal officers were Hon. Frederick Agbede as the Minority Leader, Hon. Mansur Manu Soro as the Minority Whip, and Hon. Abdulsamad Dasuki as the Deputy Minority Leader.

Hon. Frederick Agbede represents the Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State, Hon. Abdulsamad Dasuki represents the Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency of Sokoto State while Hon. Mansur Manu Soro represents the Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State.

The leadership changes followed the earlier resignation of the former Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, the former Minority Whip, Hon. Ali Isa J.C. who all defected to the APC creating vacancies in the opposition leadership.

According to the endorsement letter, the move is to ensure continuity in the coordination of the minority caucus as the House continues its legislative activities.

It could be recalled that some opposition lawmakers had earlier last week moved for the endorsement of the member representing Ideato north/Ideato south federal constituency of Imo state, Hon. Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, as the Minority Leader.

However, the lawmaker was shut out following the resolution on a motion moved by Hon. Babajimi Benson which requires a members with “cognate legislative experience” under Order 7, Rule 15 of its Standing Orders which stipulated that only members who have completed at least one full four-year term were eligible to contest for the position of Principal Officers.

The resolution therefore barred Hon.Ugochinyere and other first-term members from the race for minority leadership positions