House Of Reps Boils As Members Attempt To Snatch Mace Over Minority Leader’s Role [Video]

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, said there were nine minority political parties and the PDP alone could not determine who led the minority.

He, therefore, moved to read a letter which he said was signed by 99 members of minority political parties on the leadership positions but he was booed just as some lawmakers left their seats and started struggling for the mace.

Members of the sergeant-at-arms rushed in to prevent them from seizing the mace amidst protest by members of the main opposition PDP.

Despite the rowdy session, the speaker went ahead to read the letter, announcing Ndidi Elumelu as minority leader, Toby Okechukwu as deputy minority leader, Gideon Gwani as minority whip and Adesegun Adekoya as deputy minority whip.

The speaker then hurriedly adjourned plenary till Thursday amid boos and jeers. He was escorted out of the green chamber by aides and security details.

Watch the video of the scuffle below: