There was uproar at the upper legislative chamber on Tuesday after Senate President Godswill Akpabio named 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 representing Plateau north; and Darlington Nwokocha, senator representing Abia central; respectively.
They were both sacked by the court.
While Mwadkwon, former minority leader, is a PDP member; Nwokocha of the Labour Party (LP) was the minority whip.
Soon after Akpabio finished reading the announcements said to be from the minority caucus, an altercation ensued on the floor of parliament.
LP’s Tony Nwoye, senator representing Anambra north, said it was unfair for the senate president to choose leaders for them.
“Are we your slaves? Why will the senate president be picking leaders for us?,” Nwoye yelled 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 added that he sympathises with minority parties in the senate.
