Umahi is yet to officially resign from the Senate and his seat is yet to be declared vacant.
The Senate has appointed Senator Oyelola Yisa Ashiru (APC, Kwara South) and Senator Nwebonyi Peter Onyeka (APC, Ebonyi North) as the new Deputy Leader and Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate respectively.
The change was announced by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio on Wednesday during plenary.
Senator Ashiru was previously, the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate. this assumption of the position of Deputy Senate Leader was necessitated by the appointment of Senator Dave Umahi as Minister of Works by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
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Recall that on 4th July, 2023 Akpabio officially introduced 8 senators as the principal officers of the Senate.
They are, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) – Senate Leader, Dave Umahi (APC, Ebonyi South) – Deputy Senate Leader, Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) – Chief Whip, Oyelola Ashiru (APC, Kwara South) – Deputy Chief Whip, Simon Mwadkwon (PDP, Plateau North) – Minority Leader, Oyewunmi Olalere (PDP, Osun West) – Deputy Minority Leader, Darlington Nwokocha (LP, Abia Central) – Minority Whip and Rufai Hanga (NNPP, Kano Central) – Deputy Minority Whip.
Shortly after, President Bola Tinubu appointed Dave Umahi as Minister of Works.
The Minister is yet to officially resign his position as a member of the Senate, even as his seat is yet to be declared vacant by the Senate President as is the tradition.
