As assembly watcher, I have followed with keen interest unfolding developments in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly (AKHA) in recent times. At inception, the 26 members of the House were elected from one political party -the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Thus, its leadership structure, as it were, has six members from the same party (PDP), to wit; The Speaker, Deputy Speaker, House leader, Deputy Leader, Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip.

Moving forward, the PDP has lost five of its members to the APC. These are; Nse Ntuen (Essien Udim), Gabriel Tobby (Etim Ekpo/Ika), Idongesit Ituen (Itu), Otobong Ndem (Mkpat Enin) and Victor Udofia (Ikono). This new configuration has made the House to be constituted with the two major political parties in the state, that is; the PDP 21 members and the APC 5 members.

This piece, however, is to raise a discourse for the need for there to be in the House of Assembly, the Office of the Minority Leader and Deputy. The fact remains that the functions of the Minority Leader cannot be overemphasised in any democratic setting like ours.

A glanced into BALLOTPEDIA reveals that; The Minority Leader of a legislature directs the minority party strategy; assembles party members for important votes; serves as a spokesperson for the party’s policy positions and helps direct the party’s overall legislative agenda. The Minority Leader functions as the leader of the minority party in the legislature and serves as a counterpart to The Speaker and The Majority Leader.

The Minority Leader’s duties are similar to those of The Majority Leader. The Minority Leader serves as the Head of the minority party in the legislative chamber. The Minority Leader is elected by the minority party conference or caucus.

The Minority Leader generally also assumes the following duties: Develops the minority party positions; Negotiates with majority party leaders; Directs minority caucus activities on the chamber floor; Leads floor debates for the minority party. In some states assemblies, the Minority Leader also serves as an ex-officio member of all standing committees.

It is my submission that, in order, to deepen democracy in Akwa Ibom state, with five members of the opposition APC in the House of Assembly, the stage is now set for the state APC to elect a Minority Leader from amongst the five lawmakers, to carry out the aforestated functions in the state legislature.

This advocacy of mine, if implemented, will go a long way to widen the democratic space and provide alternative voice for members of the opposition political parties in the state.

Any democratic government without opposition voices can necessarily not function effectively in terms of delivery of democratic dividends to the society.

This is a food for thought!

• Franklyn Isong is public affairs commentator and conscience of the society

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