Some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  house of representatives members exchanged in physical combat on Wednesday over the position of minority leader.

The plenary, which started on a peaceful note on Wednesday, got rowdy after the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, announced Ndudi Elumuelu as minority leader.

The opposition party leadership  had written to the speaker to state its preference for Kingsley Chinda, a lawmaker from Rivers state.

A splinter group from the PDP rushed to snatch the mace, telling the speaker not to halt the announcement of the list.

They said the party’s list should be announced instead of the nomination list, which has the name of Ndudi Elumelu as minority leader and Toby Okechukwu as his deputy.

While journalists on the issue both parties said they have complied with Order 7 Rule 8 of the Standing Rules of the House.

The group supporting Kingsley Chinda  said its list has Kingsley Chinda as Minority Leader, Chukwuma Onyeama as Deputy Minority Leader, Yakubu Barde as Minority Whip and Muraino Ajibola as Deputy Minority Whip.

While the Elumelu group said they have chosen Ndudi Elumelu as Minority Leader, Toby Okechukwu as Deputy, Gideon Gwani as Minority Whip and Adesegun Adekoya as Deputy Minority Whip.