Ranking members of the House of Representatives from the southwest geopolitical zone have started lobbying for the House Deputy Chief Whip position.
The office became vacant as a result of the death of the last occupant, Hon. Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga, on January 15, 2025, who, until her demise, represented Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency of Ogun state.
In a statement announcing her demise, the House Spokesperson, Hon. Akin Rotimi, said Onanuga, born on December 2, 1965, was a dedicated public servant, a visionary leader, and a passionate advocate for her constituents.
“She was first elected to the House in 2019 on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform.
During that tenure, she served as Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development in the 9th Assembly, where she championed policies to empower women and advance social welfare.
“Re-elected in 2023, she was appointed Deputy Chief Whip of the 10th Assembly, a role in which she demonstrated exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to legislative discipline, particularly during parliamentary sittings,” the statement reads.
Deputy Benjamin Kalu led a high-powered delegation of the House on January 17, on behalf of Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, on a condolence visit to the deceased’s hometown in Sagamu, Ogun State, where he said Onanuga was irreplaceable.
The sad event occurred a day after the House adjourned plenary on January 14 to enable lawmakers to work on the 2025 budget presently before the National Assembly.
Thus, as the House resumes plenary on Tuesday, February 4, 2024, LEADERSHIP gathered that ranking lawmakers from the southwest zone, where the late Onanuga hailed from, are moving to occupy the principal position.
In the current House leadership, the presiding officers, Speaker Abbas and Deputy Speaker Kalu, are from the North-west and South-east, respectively; the Majority Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, is from Edo (South-south); and the Chief Whip, Hon.
Bello Kumo is from Gombe (northeast), and Deputy Majority Leader Halims Abdullahi–Kogi (North-central).
Also, the Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, is from Rivers (South-south); Minority Whip, Hon.
Ali Isah is from Gombe(North-east), Deputy Minority Leader); Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Aliyu Madaki, is from Kano (North-west), while the Deputy Minority Whip, George Ozodinobi – Anambra (South-east).
Consequently, the southwest geopolitical zone, which is significantly controlled by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and has many House members, has no principal officer.
Credible sources said those in the race to fill the void include the South-west caucus chairman, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke (APC, Lagos), Hon. Babajmi Benson (APC, Lagos), Hon. Ogbara Kafilat (APC, Lagos), Hon. Wale Raji (APC, Lagos), Hon. Kuye Ademorin Aliyu(APC, Lagos) and Hon. Isiaka Ayokunle Ibrahim (APC, Ogun).
Others are Hon. Tolupe Akande-Sadipe (APC, Oyo), Hon. Akin Alabi(APC, Oyo), Hon. Olajide Adedeji Stanley(APC, Oyo). Hon Peter Abiola Makinde(APC, Ondo), Hon. Timehin Adelegbe (APC, Ondo) Derin Adesida (APC, Ondo).
Pundits contended that the permutations are closing in on Hon. Faleke, Hon. Benson, Hon. Kafilat, Hon. Akande-Sadipe, Hon. Isiaka and Hon. Alabi.
They argued that Faleke and Benson, both from Lagos, are in the good books of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Chief of Staff, former Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, who are critical in determining who will occupy the vacant position.
According to them, Kafilat and Akande-Sadipe from Lagos and Oyo, respectively, are favoured by the consideration of gender sensitivity as the deceased occupant of the position was the only female principal officer in the 10th Assembly. In contrast, the odds favour Isiaka, considering that he is from Ogun, just like the late Onanuga, and Alabi, who chairs the all-important House Committee on Works, has age to his advantage.
“The race for who becomes the next House of Representatives Deputy Chief Whip, which became vacant following the death of Hon.Hon. Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga on January 15, 2025, has begun. Many people are mentioned in the highest quarters that interest them in the slot.
“But those who are the arrowheads in the race are the chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Hon. James Faleke; the chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson; the chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs, Hon. Ogbara Kafilat – all from Lagos. The other ones are Hon. Tolupe Akande-Sadipe, Hon Isiaka Ayokunle Ibrahim and Hon. Akin Alabi.
“There are visible factors why the race is closing in on them. Faleke and Benson are in the good books of the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Chief of Staff, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila. These are the people who make the final decision on the matter.
“For Kafilat and Akande-Sadipe, they are being favoured by the issue of gender because they are women, and that office was last held by a woman who happened to be the only female principal officer in the whole of the 10th National Assembly. Hon. Isiaka is from an Ogun state like the late Onanuga, while Akin Alabi is still young, and youths are clamouring for leadership positions.
“You will recall that Akande-Sadipe had declared the intention to vie for deputy speaker of the House of Representatives if the position was to be zoned to the South-west by APC in the build-up to the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in 2023,” an insider told LEADERSHIP on the condition of anonymity.
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