The House of Representatives successfully concluded its constitutional duty of Screening and Confirmation of the new military leadership, at a session defined by significant political realignments and defections that further strengthened the Majority Caucus.
I. CONFIRMATION OF DEFENCE LEADERSHIP
The session’s most critical action was the consideration and adoption of the report on the nominees for the nation’s security architecture.
Service Chiefs Confirmed
The Ad Hoc Committee on Screening of Nominees for Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Service Chiefs, chaired by Rep. Babajimi Benson, laid its report before the House. Following the consideration and adoption of the report, the House confirmed President Bola Tinubu’s nominees as the new military high command:
1. Chief of Defence Staff: Lieutenant General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede
2. Chief of Army Staff: Major General Waidi Shaibu
3. Chief of Naval Staff: Rear Admiral Idi Abbas
4. Chief of Air Staff: Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke
II. POLITICAL REALIGNMENT AND CROSS CARPETING
A significant political shift occurred during the session, marked by the formal notification of mass resignations from the Minority Caucus.
Majority Caucus Gains
The Majority Caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) received six Opposition Members who formally joined the party, resulting in the APC completing a clean sweep of the Plateau and Enugu House Caucuses.
Defections Notified
The Members who formally notified the House of their resignation from the Minority Caucus were:
1. Rep. Daniel Asama Ago (Labour Party, LP), who was the only remaining Opposition Member of the Plateau State Caucus, ensuring the APC now holds all seats from the state.
2. Five Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members from Enugu State: Reps. Chidi Mark Obetta, Anayo Beford Onwuegbu, Dennis Nnamdi Agbo, Martins George Oke, and Nnaji Nnolim John.
The 8-Member Plateau and Enugu Caucuses, previously multi-partisan at the inauguration of the House, are now both completely APC-dominated.
These latest movements bring the total number of defections in the Green Chamber to 58, with the APC recording 57 gains and APGA one. Conversely, the PDP has lost 38 seats, the Labour Party 13, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) three, the Young Progressives Party (YPP) two, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and APGA have each lost one.
III. INTERNAL STRUCTURE AND PUBLIC HEALTH OVERSIGHT
The House also effected changes to its internal committee structure to enhance public health scrutiny.
Committee Restructuring
The House strengthened its public health oversight capacity by renaming the existing HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Committee as the Committee on Infectious Diseases. This change broadens the Committee’s scope to address emerging public health threats and epidemics.
