Reps Finally Kill Ugochinyere’s Minority Leadership Ambition

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The ambition of  Ikenga Ugochinyere, the Honourable Member representing Ideato Federal Constituency of Imo state to become the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives has finally collapsed.

The collapse was not because of the weight of any rival contest, but to an affirmation of the  House rule which effectively shut our first -timers from holding Principal Offices.

The Source reports that a document in circulation, Wednesday, June 3, 2026, had indicated that 61 out of the 81 opposition members of the green chamber of the National Assembly nominated and endorsed Ugochinyere as their choice for the vacant position of the Minority Leader.

His endorsement resulted from  the vacuum created by the resignation of the erstwhile Minority Leader, Hon Kingsley Chinda,  shortly after the announcement of his defection to the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC.

However, while raising a matter of privilege during plenary on Thursday, June 4, 2026, House Deputy spokesperson Hon Philip Agbese , representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue state denied appending his signature to the document purporting to have endorsed the Ugochinyere for the Minority Leadership position.

According to him, his signature was forged and applied for a purpose not originally meant for, insisting that he only became aware of the endorsement document when it surfaced online and filled the social media space.

Expectedly, the development triggered heavy uproar and sharp disagreement with Lawmakers loyal to the Ugochinyere project  insisting that Hon Agbese, just like others, willingly signed up to the endorsement document.

Operating under the aegis of the ” G-60 members,the Minority Caucus, while calling on the leadership of the House to respect the expressed wishes of the overwhelming majority by avoiding the initiation of a fresh selection process for the vacant position of the Minority Leader, also, called for an official verification of the signatures contained in the endorsement document.

The Caucus emphasized that a transparent verification exercise will no doubt conclusively establish the authenticity or otherwise of the earlier nomination process that threw up Ugochinyere.

But at plenary on Wednesday June,10, the House considered and passed a resolution to the effect that only Lawmakers with the requisite “cognate legislative experience will be eligible to vie for, and occupy Principal Offices of the House.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by the Lawmaker representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency of Lagos State, Hon Babanimi Benson which sought to clarify Order 7, Rule 15 of the Standing Orders of the Legislative Body.

 According to the order, only members of the House with cognate legislative experience as members (ranking members)  shall be eligible for appointment as Principal Officers.

Presenting the motion entitled: “Need for a precise definition of Order Seven , Rule 15 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives”, Hon Benson argued that parliamentary tradition, globally, acknowledges and favours experienced Lawmakers for leadership positions.

Referencing the 10th Senate’s interpretation of “cognate legislative experience”, Hon Benson submitted that the law clearly refers to “Senators and House members who have completed, at least, one full term at the National Assembly.

The motion which was seconded by Hon Peter Uzokwe representing Nnewi North/ Nnewi South/ Ekwusigo Federal Constituency of Anambra State was, thereafter, adopted by the House, a development  that effectively put paid to Ugochinyere’s ambition, being a first timer to the House.