Senate Appoints Morro, Osita As Minority Leader, Minority Chief Whip

By James Itodo

The Senate has announced the appointment of Senator Abba Morro representing Benue South as new Minority Leader and senator Osita Ngwu representing Enugu North as Minority Whip of the Senate.

The announcement was made by the president of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio during plenary in Abuja.

Senator Morro replaces Senator Simon Mwadkwon, the former minority leader, who was sacked by the Court of Appeal.

While senator Ngwu replaces the former minority whip, Senator Dalington Nwokocha, who was also sacked by the Appeal Court and had represented Abia Central under the Labour Party.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio who announced the new minority leaders said their nomination was based on their endorsement by the minority senators.

He said 41 senators signed for Abba Morro’s candidacy, while 31 senators signed for the candidacy of Sen.Osita Ngwu.

However, Senator Okey Ezeh of the Labour Party from Enugu state citing a point of order objected the nomination of Senator Osita Ngwu as Minority Chief Whip.

Ezeh said it was unfair inequitable, for the seven Labour Party Senators, stressing that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members were allocated all the minority positions.

Ezeh said the minority cacus had only resolved to adopt senator Abba Morro as the the nominated minority leader, while the meeting on who becomes the minority whip would continue at a latter time.

Senator Tony Nwoye (LP Anambra) also alleged that President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio was complicit in the selection of minority leaders for the senate, saying that the minorities were not his servants.

Nwoye said the minorities deserve the right to choose their leaders in the senate.

Edited By Grace Namiji