There was uproar in the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly on Tuesday, following the announcement of Senator Osita Ngwu representing Enugu West as the new Senate Minority Whip.
Senator Osita Ngwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was appointed as the Senate Minority Whip by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, a decision that sparked discontent among some Labour Party senators.
Senator Okechukwu Ezea from Enugu North objected to the nomination, and his objection was supported by Senator Tony Nwoye of the Labour Party (LP), who contested the allocation of three minority leadership slots to the PDP, leaving the Labour Party without representation in the Senate leadership.
After a heated debate, the Senate President upheld the majority decision, which favored the PDP for the position of Senate Minority Whip.
Ngwu replaces Labour Party’s Sen. Darlington Nwokwocha, who represented Abia Central district, until his sack by the Court of Appeal in Lagos on November 4.
In addition, Akpabio appointed Benue South senator Abba Moro as the Senate’s new minority leader at the plenary.
He takes Sen. Simon Nwadkwon’s position, who was dismissed by the court on October 23 and represented Plateau North on the PDP platform.
In the meantime, the Senate has pushed the federal government to give late Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi, who designed the national flag and passed away on August 29, 2023, eternal life.
Following Sen. Sharafadeen Abiodun’s motion from Oyo South, the lawmakers observed a minute of silence and urged the government to bury him in a state funeral in recognition of his contribution to the creation of the national
flag.