Speaker Abbas Tajudeen on Wednesday appointed the member representing Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency Abia state, Rep. Chris Nkwonta, who defected from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as chairman of the newly constituted House Committee on South East Development Commission (SEDC)......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
Nkwonta had announced his defection in a letter addressed to the Speaker read at plenary on Wednesday.
Tajudeen said the defector cited a crisis within his former party as the reason for his decision.
Deputy Minority Leader, Aliyu Madaki, however, raised a point of order, citing Section 68 of the Constitution, saying the seat should be declared vacant in line with the provision of Section 68.
The point of order was overruled by the speaker, who welcomed Nkwonta to the APC.
The Speaker also announced other new Committee chairmen and their Deputies which include; Rep. Timehin Adelegbe as Chairman Committee on Science Research Institutions; Rep. Kabiru Ahmadi Mai Palace as Chairman House Committee on Sports; Rep. Abubakar Gummi as Chairman House Committee on North East Development Commission (NEDC) and Rep. Kama Nkemkanma as the Chairman, House Committee on Climate Change and Security.
Others were; Rep. Mohammed Mukthar as Chairman, Committee on Tourism; Rep. Zakariya Idris as Chairman, Committee on Safety Standards and Rep. Anayo Onwuegbu chair of the House Committee on Lake Chad.