‘Are we your slaves?’ – LP Senator challenges Akpabio over minority portfolios (video)
Senator Tony Nwoye of the LP, who represents Anambra North, said it was wrong for the Senate President to select their leaders.
Senators elected on the Labour Party (LP) platform have criticized Senate President Godswill Akpabio for naming Abba Moro, senator representing Benue South, as minority leader and Osita Ngwu, senator representing Enugu West, as minority whip.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members replaced Simon Mwadkwon, senator for Plateau North, and Darlington Nwokocha, senator for Abia Central, respectively.
The court fired both of them.
While Mwadkwon is a member of the PDP, Nwokocha of the Labour Party (LP) was the minority whip.
An scuffle erupted on the floor of parliament just after Akpabio completed reading the ostensibly minority caucus announcements.
Senator Tony Nwoye of the LP, who represents Anambra North, said it was wrong for the Senate President to select their leaders.
“Are we your slaves? Why will the senate president be picking leaders for us?,” Nwoye was quoted by TheCable while yelling at the presiding officer.
“You have done your worst. You have pushed us to the wall. Meaning what? It is unfair. It is not about me, it is about the institution of the state.”
After some senators pacified Nwoye, Akpabio explained that the two minority leaders had shown the signatories of the senators who agreed with the decision.
“Minority put your house in order first,” he said.
“The senate president can only work with what is before me. You have Senator Abaribe and Aliero, their names are not here.”
Akpabio further expressed his sympathy with minority parties in the Senate.
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