Bayelsa Lawmaker, Fred Agbedi, Emerges Reps Minority Leader

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

After systematically edging out Hon Ikenga Ugochinyere on Wednesday, Hon Fred Agbedi representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State, on Thursday, June 11, 2026, emerged as the new Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

The Source reports that the position had, penultimate week, become vacant, following the resignation of Hon Kingsley Chinda who defected from his original political platform, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, to pursue his Rivers State gubernatorial ambition.

It will be recalled that on  Wednesday, June 3, 2026, 61 out of the 81 opposition members of the House of Representatives had signed up to nominate Ugochinyere, representing the Ideato Federal Constituency of Imo state for the position.

However, a last minute disagreement arising mainly from the withdrawal of Hon Philip Agbese, the House Deputy Spokesperson, stalled the  project last Thursday.

Hon Agbese representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State who was listed as one of the signatories to the document nominating Ugochinyere, had insisted that his signature was forged, and subsequently used for a purpose not originally meant for.

But while the pro-Ugochinyere law makers were working to establish the authenticity of the processes that led to his nomination, the House on Wednesday June 10 ,2026 dealt the last blow to the Imo state-born legislator’s ambition  with the resuscitation and reaffirmation of its Order 7, Rule 15 of the Standing Orders.

According to the provisions of the Order, only ranking members of National Assembly, with cognate legislative experience  shall be eligible to be considered as principal officers.

The consideration  and adoption of a motion moved by Hon Babanimi Benson, representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency of Lagos by the House to the effect that only ranking members shall be qualified to hold principal offices, effectively ended Ugochinyere’s ambition, being a first time Lawmaker.

Hon Agbedi who is a member of the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the troubled PDP was, therefore, officially unveiled as the Minority Leader during plenary on Thursday.

Similarly, while the member representing Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement APM, Honourable Manu Soro,  emerged as the Minority Whip, Hon Abdulsamad Dasuki from the African Democratic Congress, ADC Sokoto state was appointed as the Deputy Minority Leader.

The opposition parties filling the vacant positions was read by the Speaker Rt Hon Tajudeen Abbas .