LP senators blast Akpabio over appointment of minority leaders

Senators elected under the platform of the Labour Party, LP, on Tuesday berated the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, over the appointment of senators Abba Moro and Osita Ngwu as Minority Leader and Minority Whip, respectively.

Moro, the lawmaker representing Benue South, had emerged as the new Minority Leader of the Senate.

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Similarly, Osita Ngwu, the senator representing Enugu West, was appointed as Minority Whip. The duo were elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The appointments came after the Appeal Court sacked some members of the upper legislative chamber.

While Simon Mwadkwon, former Minority Leader, is a PDP member, Darlington Nwokocha of the LP was the Minority Whip.

However, the two lawmakers appointed to replace the sacked senators are PDP members.

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The development angered Labour Party senators, who verbally attacked Akpabio shortly after he announced the new appointments, which according to him, came from the Senate Minority Caucus.

LP’s Tony Nwoye, 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 Akpabio.

“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.”

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Reacting, Akpabio claimed the names were given to him by the Senate Minority Caucus, saying he only work with what is on his table.

“Minority put your house in order first. The Senate President can only work with what is before me. You have Senator Abaribe and Aliero, their names are not here”, he said.