Abbas Names Agbedi As House Minority Leader

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

On Thursday, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas announced that Frederick Agbedi, the member for Ekeremo/Sagbama federal constituency in Bayelsa State, would serve as the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

Earlier, the member for Ideato North/Ideato South federal constituency in Imo State had sought to lead the minority caucus, but that bid was halted on Wednesday when the green chamber barred first‑term lawmakers from holding principal offices.

Last week, opposition lawmakers nominated Ikenga Ugochiyere to succeed Kingsley Chinda—who vacated the role after becoming the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Rivers State—as minority leader.

During the plenary session last Thursday, Deputy Spokesperson of the House and Labour Party (LP) member Hon. Philip Agbese denied endorsing the Action Peoples Party (APP) lawmaker for the position. He claimed that his signature had been forged on the nomination document.

Ugochiyere dismissed Agbese’s allegation as an “outrageous lie” and released a video in which he asserted that Agbese had signed the endorsement.

In the same session, Abbas named Agbedi, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member, as the new Minority Leader. He added that the decision was unanimous among minority caucus members.

The caucus letter, read by the Speaker, stated that Agbedi was chosen by consensus because he is one of the most experienced members in the House.

Other appointments announced by the Speaker included Manu Soro (APM, Bauchi) as Minority Whip and Hon. Abdulsamad Dasuki (ADC, Sokoto) as Deputy Minority Leader.

Hon. George Ozodinobi, who had acted as Minority Leader after Chinda’s departure, returned to his role as Deputy Minority Whip.

Abbas said that with these appointments the body of principal officers of the House is now complete.

He also stated that the House leadership would collaborate with the minority caucus to advance the House’s agenda and effectively implement its legislative program.