The member representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State, Frederick Agbedi, has emerged as the new Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

Agbedi’s emergence follows the resignation of former Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda of Rivers State, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

His nomination was conveyed to the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, in a letter from the minority caucus during plenary on Thursday.

Reading the letter, Abbas announced that opposition lawmakers had reached a consensus on the appointment of new principal officers to fill vacant positions within the minority leadership.

“The minority members of the 10th Assembly hereby unanimously nominate the following members by consensus to fill the vacant positions of the minority in the parliament,” the Speaker said.

According to the letter, Agbedi was nominated as Minority Leader, while Hon. Mansur Soro of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Bauchi State, emerged as Minority Whip. Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Sokoto State, was named Deputy Minority Leader.

Abbas congratulated the newly appointed principal officers and expressed confidence in their ability to contribute to the legislative work of the House.

“The leadership of the House will work with them assiduously in ensuring that we achieve our legislative agenda objectives of this very important 10th Assembly,” he said.

A ranking lawmaker, Agbedi has represented Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency since 2011 and is among the longest-serving members of the House.

As Minority Leader, he will be responsible for coordinating opposition lawmakers and presenting the position of minority parties on key legislative issues before the chamber.

His appointment comes amid ongoing political realignments and defections ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Shortly after the announcement, Ikenga Ugochinyere, a lawmaker from Imo State who had earlier been nominated for the position, formally withdrew from the race, citing recent amendments to the House Rules and new eligibility requirements for principal officers.

The appointments are expected to restore stability within the opposition caucus following weeks of uncertainty triggered by Chinda’s defection.