Reps in rowdy session, sergeant-at-arms goes for mace, Gbajabiamila suspends plenary

There was confusion at the Federal House of Representatives on Wednesday, when the members engaged one another over the declaration of who becomes the lower chamber’s minority leader.

The House which turned rowdy followed the Speaker’s decision to abandon a letter by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nominating Kingsley Chinda as Minority Leader.

The PDP is the largest minority party in the House.

Despite this, the speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, went ahead to announce Ndidi Elumelu as Minority Leader.

The development almost immediately degenerated into a protest by members of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

However, Elumelu is also a PDP member but the matter got complicated when an unidentified lawmaker grabbed the mace of the lower chamber.

The sergeant-at-arms had to make a move to secure the mace in the melee, even as the speaker hurriedly adjourned plenary, and was escorted out of the green chamber by aides and security details.

 

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