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8 Highlights That Shaped Nigeria House of Representatives in Y2024
- Binance Bribery Saga Top The List of Events in The House of Representatives
- Alex Ikwechegh and the Abuja Uber Driver Slap
- Mass Defection in Labour Party
In 2024, the House of Representatives experienced a range of significant events that shaped its course throughout the year.
Eko Hot Blog review Some of these key moments , which include:
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1. BINANCE BRIBERY SAGA
In May, allegations of bribery arose involving Binance CEO Richard Teng and the House Committee on Financial Crimes.
Mr Teng claimed that after meeting with the committee, his team was approached by unidentified individuals offering to resolve the company’s issues in return for payment.
Prior to this allegation, two Binance executives had been arrested on criminal charges, and the House of representatives Committee, chaired by Ginger Onwusibe, was tasked with investigating a petition against the company.
The committee had threatened to issue arrest warrants for the company’s executives for disregarding multiple invitations.
However, the bribery allegation led to the early termination of the committee’s investigation
2. SAGA OVER SAMOA AGREEMENT
In July, a debate concerning the Samoa Agreement almost led to a conflict between the legislature and the executive branch.
Following a motion by Aliyu Madaki, lawmakers in the House of Representatives called for the suspension of the agreement due to alleged LGBTQ+ clauses.
However, the newspaper that reported the story later retracted it after an ombudsman found the report to be inaccurate and untrue.
3. DISSOLUTION OF DOWNSTREAM AND MIDSTREAM COMMITTEE
The House leadership dissolved the ad-hoc Joint Downstream and Midstream Committee due to conflicts of interest among its members.
The committee was initially tasked with investigating issues related to petroleum products and energy security.
However, the committee became embroiled in bribery allegations and was dissolved after members engaged in a media war to protect their interests.
4. CHANGE OF NATIONAL ANTHEM
One significant event in the House was the decision to revert to the old National Anthem.
Both chambers of the National Assembly unanimously passed a bill to adopt the original anthem, titled “Nigeria We Hail Thee,” which was written by Lillian Jean Williams, a British expatriate, and composed by Frances Berda in 1959.
The bill was sponsored by the Majority Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, and was introduced and passed on the same day.
Subsequently, the President was invited to address a joint session of the National Assembly, where the anthem was officially inaugurated.
5. FUBARA VS WIKE TUSSLE DIVIDES HOUSE
The feud between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and former Governor Nyesom Wike caused divisions within the minority caucus in the House. Ikenga Ugochinyere led a faction loyal to Fubara, opposing Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda.
In May, Ugochinyere led a group of 50 lawmakers to visit Fubara in Port Harcourt, a move that angered many pro-Wike lawmakers in the House. By June, Ugochinyere was referred to the House Ethics Committee for leading the visit.
Undeterred, Ugochinyere continued to lead a strong opposition against the Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Umar Damagum. For weeks, he was the face of resistance against Wike’s influence.
6. MASS DEFECTION IN LABOUR PARTY
Towards the end of 2024, the Labour Party faced a wave of defections in the House of Representatives.
A total of six members of the LP caucus defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), significantly weakening the strength of the Labour Party as the third-largest party in Nigeria.
The defections were announced during the House of Representatives’ plenary sessions, with members citing divisions within the Labour Party as the main reason for their decision to switch allegiances.
The Labour Party expressed disappointment over the defections, but the loss of these lawmakers was seen as a significant blow to the party’s position in the House of Representatives.
Chinedu Okere (Owerri Municipal/Owerri North/Owerri West constituency), Mathew Donatus (Kaura Federal Constituency, Kaduna), Akiba Bassey (Calabar Municipal/Odukpani constituency), and Esosa Iyawe (Oredo Federal Constituency, Edo) all left the party on the same day.
Later, Dalyop Chollom and Alfred Ajang, both from Plateau State, abandoned “Mama, Papa, and Pikin” and embraced the “broom” of the APC.
7. DEATH IN THE GREEN CHAMBER
It’s always a somber moment when the House of Representatives loses a member, and in 2024, the chamber faced the loss of three representatives: Ekene Adams, Olajide Akinremi, and Isa Dangoyaro.
These losses were marked by moments of silence in the Green Chamber, as the House paid tribute to their departed colleagues.
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8. ALEX IKWECHEGH AND THE UBER DRIVER SLAP
Federal lawmaker, representing the Aba North and South Federal Constituency assaulted a Bolt driver, Mr Stephen Abuwatseya in his Abuja residence, the driver claimed he went to deliver snails to the lawmaker, who became enraged when asked to retrieve the package from the vehicle. He was slapped thrice.
Alex Ikwechegh, who was later arrested and questioned for assaulting the driver apologized to for disrespecting the man.
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