Speaker Abbas Announces Bayelsa Lawmaker As House Minority Leader

Hon. Frederick Agbedi, the lawmaker representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State, has been unveiled as the new Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

His emergence was formally announced during Thursday’s plenary session by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas following the submission of a letter from the minority caucus of the House.

Agbedi takes over the position after the exit of former Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda of Rivers State, who recently left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), thereby creating vacancies in the opposition leadership hierarchy within the Green Chamber.

The correspondence presented to the House indicated that members of the minority caucus had unanimously agreed on replacements for the vacant principal offices reserved for opposition parties.

Reading the letter on the floor of the House, Speaker Abbas informed lawmakers that the caucus had reached a consensus on the nominations.

According to him, “The minority members of the 10th Assembly have unanimously nominated the following members by consensus to occupy the vacant minority leadership positions in the House.”

Abbas announced Agbedi as the new Minority Leader, while Hon. Mansur Soro of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), representing Bauchi State, was endorsed as Minority Whip.

He also disclosed that Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), representing Sokoto State, had been nominated as Deputy Minority Leader.

Congratulating the newly appointed opposition leaders, the Speaker said the appointments had completed the composition of the House’s principal officers.

“Today, the body of principal officers is complete. On behalf of the entire House, I congratulate the three honourable members and wish them success in their new responsibilities,” Abbas stated.

With the appointment, Agbedi assumes a key leadership role within the opposition bloc, charged with coordinating minority lawmakers, advancing their legislative agenda, and presenting the collective position of opposition parties on issues before the House.