House of Representatives yesterday recognised Frederick Agbedi as Minority Leader after Ikenga Ugochinyere withdrew his claim to the position.

Ugochinyere declared that he was stepping aside out of respect for the amended House rules despite enjoying the backing of most opposition lawmakers.

The development brought to an end weeks of controversy and political manoeuvring that had engulfed the opposition caucus following the resignation of former Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, after his defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaker Tajudeen Abbas announced Agbedi’s emergence during plenary after reading a communication from minority parties nominating their principal officers in accordance with Order 7, Rule 7 of the House Standing Orders.

Also announced were Abdulsamad Dasuki as Deputy Minority Leader and Hon. Mansur Manu Soro as Minority Whip.

Declaring the opposition leadership structure complete, Abbas congratulated the newly appointed principal officers and pledged the support of the House leadership in advancing the legislative agenda of the 10th Assembly.

The announcement preceded the reading of a letter from Ugochinyere, who had earlier emerged as the preferred candidate of the opposition caucus after securing the endorsement of 61 out of the 81 minority lawmakers in the House.

In the letter addressed to the Speaker and written on behalf of a group of 60 minority lawmakers, Ugochinyere formally withdrew the nomination earlier submitted for his emergence as Minority Leader-designate.

With the recognition of Agbedi and the other minority principal officers, the House has now completed the composition of its leadership structure, ending a dispute that tested the cohesion of the opposition caucus and sparked debate over the interpretation of the House rules governing the emergence of minority leaders.