Just in: Agbedi, Dasuki emerges as Reps minority leader, deputy

The House of Representatives on Thursday completed the composition of its minority leadership, ending a week-long controversy surrounding the nomination of principal officers for the opposition caucus.

The development followed the unanimous nomination and endorsement of three lawmakers to fill vacant principal officer positions in the opposition caucus.

The announcement was made on the floor of the House during plenary, where the minority members of the 10th House of Representatives presented a consensus list for the positions of minority leader, deputy minority leader and minority whip.

According to the nomination, Rep. Frederick Agbedi was endorsed as the new minority leader, while Rep. Abdulsamad Dasuki was nominated to serve as deputy minority leader.

Rep. Mansur Soro was named Minority Whip.

Presiding over the session, Speaker of the House, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, formally announced the nominations and declared the minority leadership positions filled.

He said the development completed the composition of the House’s principal officers and expressed confidence in the ability of the newly appointed leaders to contribute to the legislative work of the 10th Assembly.

“Today, the body of principal officers is complete,” Abbas said.

The Speaker congratulated the three lawmakers on their emergence and assured them of the support and cooperation of the House leadership.

“I want to seize this opportunity, on behalf of the entire House, to congratulate the three persons and wish them all the best in their new positions.

“Let them be assured that the leadership of the House will work with them assiduously in ensuring that we achieve the legislative agenda and objectives of this very important 10th Assembly,” he stated.

The appointments followed consultations among opposition parties in the House aimed at filling the vacant positions and ensuring effective representation of the minority caucus in the leadership structure of the chamber.

With the latest nominations, both the majority and minority caucuses now have their full complement of principal officers, a development expected to strengthen legislative coordination and parliamentary oversight in the House.