Several members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday struggled to grab the mace as the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, was about to announce minority principal officers of the house.
The struggle began at about 2:30 pm when Kingsley Chinda of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) moved a point of order, interrupting the speaker who was about to read a letter signed by 99 members of minority parties.
Chinda said that Order 6 Rule 1 of the House Rules said that members of minority parties in the house shall choose from among themselves someone with experience to lead them.
He said that where the house rule was not clear on the procedure, the house should follow precedence or follow a resolution of the house.
Chinda said that the major opposition party, PDP, had written to the speaker and had presented him (Chinda) to be the Minority Leader, Chukwuka Onyema as Deputy Minority Leader; Yakubu Bade as Minority Whip; and Muraina Ajibola as Deputy Minority Whip.
Gbajabiamila, however, ruled Chinda out of order saying that there were nine minority political parties and that PDP alone could not determine who led the minority.
Gbajabiamila attempted to read the letter, which he said, was signed by 99 minority political parties but in a loud cry, members left their seats and started struggling for the mace.
Members of the sergeant-at-arms rushed in to prevent the lawmakers from taking the mace and some lawmakers held unto each other about to get into a fight.
The speaker, however, went on in a rowdy session and announced Ndudi Elumelu, brother to entrepreneur, Tony Elumelu, as Minority Leader; Toby Okechukwu as Deputy Minority Leader; Gideon Gwani as Minority Whip; and Adesegun Adekoya as Deputy Minority Whip.
Gbajabiamila adjourned plenary to Thursday, leaving some members chanting his name while others booed.
