Controversies erupted in the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly on Tuesday, triggered by the revelation that Senator Osita Ngwu, the representative of Enugu West, had been appointed as the Senate’s new Minority Whip.
Ngwu, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was designated as the Minority Leader by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, a move that stirred dissatisfaction among certain senators from the Labour Party.
Senator Okechukwu Ezea of Enugu North took a stand against the nomination, receiving support from Senator Tony Nwoye of the LP. Nwoye, in particular, challenged the decision to allocate three minority leadership positions to the PDP, effectively excluding the Labour Party from the senate leadership.
Following an intense exchange of views, the President of the Senate acquiesced to the prevailing majority stance, which had cast its vote in favor of the PDP for the role of Senate Minority Whip.
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Sen. Ngwu takes over from Sen. Darlington Nwokwocha of the Labour Party, the erstwhile representative of Abia Central district. Nwokwocha’s term was terminated by the Court of Appeal in Lagos on November 4.
In the course of the plenary session, Akpabio announced Abba Moro, the legislator representing Benue South, as the fresh appointee to the position of Minority Leader of the Senate.
Moro fills the position vacated by Sen. Simon Nwadkwon from the PDP, who represented Plateau North and was dismissed by the court on October 23.
Meanwhile, the Senate has called upon the Federal Government to ensure the lasting legacy of the late Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi, the designer of the national flag, who departed on August 29, 2023.
In response to a motion presented by Sen. Sharafadeen Abiodun from Oyo South, the lawmakers paused for a moment of silence and appealed to the government to arrange a state burial as a tribute to Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi’s significant contribution to the design of the national flag.