Drama ensued at the House of Representatives on Wednesday when some members struggled to grab the mace as the Speaker, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, was about to announce Minority Principal Officers of the House.
The struggle began about 2.30 pm when Kingsley Chinda (PDP) moved a point of order, interrupting the speaker who was about to read a letter signed by 99 members of minority parties.
According to Chinda, Order 6 Rule 1 of the House Rules says 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, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had written to the speaker and had presented Kingsley Chinda (PDP-Rivers) to be the Minority Leader.
He said that Chukwuka Onyema (PDP-Anambra) was selected to be Deputy Minority Leader, Yakubu Bade (PDP-Kaduna) as Minority Whip and Muraina Ajibola (PDP-Oyo) as Deputy Minority Whip.
Chinda urged the speaker to follow precedents of the House and adopt the list of lawmakers sent by the major minority party.
The speaker, 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 exchanged fisticuffs.
The speaker, however, went on in a rowdy session and announced Ndudi Godwin Elumelu as Minority Leader, Toby Okechukwu as Deputy Minority Leader, Gideon Gwani as Minority Whip and Adesegun Adekoya as Deputy Minority Whip.
The speaker then adjourned plenary to Thursday, leaving some members chanting his name while others booed.
