By IMELDA OSAYANDE

The Edo House of Assembly on Monday stepped down a request by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), lawmakers to change the minority leadership positions in the assembly.

The request followed the defection of the three remaining PDP lawmakers to the NDC.

The house faulted the request for failing to adhere to the standard parliamentary procedures.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN ) reports that the letter was addressed to the Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, by the NDC state Chairman, David Olukoga.

In the letter, Olukoga informed the house of the defection of Natasha Osawaru, (Egor PDP) Charity Aiguobarueghian, the Minority Leader, (Ovia North-East 1 PDP) ; and Uyi Omosigho (Oredo East, APC ) to the NDC.

The letter also nominated Osawaru as the new minority leader and Omosigho as minority whip.

The development sparked debate in the house, with the majority of lawmakers faulting the letter for not following due process.

In a related development, a Commissioner- Nominee, Mr Jeffrey Iriabekhai was cleared by the house.

Iriabekhai, an intelligence expert and former staff of the Department of State Services was found academically sound by the lawmakers.

The house also adopted the business calendar for the first quarter of the fourth session in 2026.

The majority leader of the house ,

Jonathan Aigbokhan (Esan West), said the proposed 51 legislative days from June to August would enable the house to meet its mandate for the period. (NAN)

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