- Agbese told lawmakers that he was surprised to see a nomination document circulating online bearing his name and signature
- Speaker Abbas Tajudeen assured the House that the allegations would be examined
A heated dispute over the leadership of the opposition caucus in the House of Representatives disrupted plenary on Thursday, as lawmakers exchanged accusations surrounding alleged forgery and efforts to influence the contest for the position of Minority Leader.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the confrontation highlighted deepening divisions among opposition members following recent political realignments within the National Assembly.
EDITOR’S PICK
- APM Endorses Makinde For 2027 Presidency, Targets PDP Members In Osun
- Eredo Monarchs Suspend Ojude Oba Celebrations in Honour of Late Omola of Odomola
- “Do Not Cheat Back”—Actress Eriata Ese Warns Women Against Revenge Infidelity
The tension began when the lawmaker representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency in Benue State, Philip Agbese, raised a matter of personal privilege.
He alleged that his signature had been used without his consent on a document reportedly endorsing the member representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere, for the Minority Leader position.
Agbese told lawmakers that he was surprised to see a nomination document circulating online bearing his name and signature, despite never authorising any endorsement of Ugochinyere’s ambition.
While acknowledging that he had held discussions with several colleagues, including Ugochinyere, on matters affecting opposition lawmakers and constituency development, Agbese insisted he never signed any nomination form.
He described the situation as a violation of his legislative rights and called for a thorough investigation into what he termed an attempt to misuse his identity.
Agbese also dismissed reports suggesting lawmakers were offered financial inducements to support candidates in the leadership race, maintaining that he had not accepted any such payment.
Responding to the complaint, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen assured the House that the allegations would be examined.
He also urged members to avoid escalating tensions, revealing that a closed-door meeting involving opposition lawmakers had been scheduled later in the day to address the leadership dispute.
The atmosphere became more charged when Ugochinyere sought the floor to respond. He firmly denied the forgery allegation, insisting that Agbese personally signed the nomination document in the presence of several witnesses.
According to him, the endorsement was made voluntarily during a meeting attended by other lawmakers who could verify the circumstances.
His remarks triggered an immediate reaction from Agbese, who repeatedly interrupted to deny the claim.
The exchange quickly degenerated into a shouting match, with supporters of both lawmakers joining the argument and forcing the Speaker to repeatedly call for order.
Despite the commotion, Ugochinyere maintained that his candidacy enjoyed substantial backing among opposition members. He claimed that a majority of opposition lawmakers had endorsed him for the position and described the allegations against him as false and politically motivated.
The Speaker again stepped in, urging both sides to suspend further arguments and allow the matter to be resolved through internal consultations.
The debate took another turn when another lawmaker raised a procedural objection, arguing that Ugochinyere’s claim of being elected by opposition members should not form part of the official parliamentary record since the caucus had not formally communicated any leadership decision to the House.
The disagreement comes amid uncertainty over opposition leadership following recent defections and internal crises affecting several opposition parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party.
Former Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda recently defected to the APC ahead of his reported governorship ambition in Rivers State, creating a vacancy that has intensified the contest among opposition lawmakers.
Ugochinyere’s growing prominence as a vocal opposition figure has reportedly earned him support from some lawmakers seeking a new leadership direction within the caucus.
However, competing interests and rival political camps have continued to fuel disagreements over who should lead the opposition bloc.
Thursday’s dramatic exchange underscored the intensity of the struggle, with both camps claiming legitimacy as lawmakers await the outcome of consultations expected to shape the future leadership of the minority caucus in the House of Representatives.
FURTHER READING
