The Senate’s Deputy Minority Whip, Senator Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti South), has been nominated as the new Senate Minority Leader by the Senate Caucus of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
With her appointment, Olujimi who was deputy governor of Ekiti State, replaces the immediate past Senate Minority Leader and former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
While speaking to Vanguard, a source said yesterday that Senator Olujimi’s name would be made known when the Senate reconvenes in September from its annual recess.
It was gathered that Senator Emmanuel Paulker (PDP, Bayelsa Central) will now take over Olujimi’s position as the Senate Deputy Minority Whip.
According to the source, the PDP caucus took the decision to have Olujimi, a former member of the House of Representatives, in order to have a vibrant member from the South-West since Governor Ayodele Fayose, who has been very active, will soon round off, having completed his second term in office as governor.
The source said further that Deputy Senate Minority Leader, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha (PDP, Taraba South) and Senate Minority Whip, Senator Philip Aduda (PDP, FCT) would retain their positions because they are both from the north.
It was gathered further that the position of Senate Minority Leader did not go to the South-South because the National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, is from Rivers State, South-South geo-political zone of the country.
According to the source, Olujimi was chosen because the party wants to recognise the contributions of women and she being one of the most active senators, it became imperative for her to take the position.
The South-East was not considered because the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, hails from Enugu (South-East).
The PDP caucus had said it would get a very vibrant replacement who would lead the business of the party in the Senate successfully.
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