The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has appointed Senator Opeyemi Bamidele as the new majority leader of the tenth senate.
In an announcement made during the senate plenary earlier today, Tuesday, other principal officers are; Senator David Umahi as the deputy majority leader, Senator Ali Ndume as the Senate majority whip, and Senator Lola Ashiru as the deputy majority whip.
Senator Bamidele, is representing Ekiti Central senatorial district, Senator Umahi from Ebonyi state, Senator Ndume from Borno state and Senator Ashiru represents Kwara South Senatorial District.
All of these officers belong to the All Progressive Congress (APC), the dominant political party in the national assembly.
In addition, the senate also announced the leadership of the minority caucus, with Senator Simon Mwadkon as the minority leader and Senator Oyewumi Olalere as the deputy majority whip. Both of these senators are from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Senator Darlington Nwokocha of the Labour Party emerged as the senate minority whip, while Senator Rufai Hanga, representing Kano Central, was appointed as the senate deputy minority whip from the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP).
With the appointment of principal officers completed the Senate is now prepared for its upcoming tasks. The first order of business will be the anticipated screening of the President’s ministerial list.
In a related development, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Tuesday, revealed the new principal officers of the 10th House of Representatives.
Abbas announced Julius Ihonvbere (APC – Edo) as the House Majority Leader, while Halims Abdullahi (APC – Kogi) was named the Deputy Majority Leader). Bello Kumo (APC – Gombe) was announced as the Chief Whip of the lower legislative chamber, while Adewunmi Onanuga (APC – Ogun) is the Deputy Chief Whip.
The speaker also read a letter from the Minority Caucus which chose Kingsley Chinda (PDP), the reported anointed candidate of Nyesom Wike, the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, as Minority Leader.
Other principal officers chosen by the minority caucus include Aliya Madaki (NNPP, Deputy Minority Leader), Ali Isah (PDP, Minority Whip), and George Ebizimawo (Labour Party, Deputy Minority Whip).
