By EricJames Ochigbo
Proceedings in the House of Representatives at Thursday’s plenary degenerated into a rowdy session over claims that Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere (APP-Imo) has been endorsed as the next minority leader by 60 members of opposition.
The position of the House Leader became vacant following resignation of Rep. Kingsly Chinda who was elected to lead opposition members as a member of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
However, Chinda, has now defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and is now governorship candidate of the party 2027 governorship elections in Rivers.
As a result, the Rivers’ lawmaker quit his position as the Minority Leader of the House on Tuesday.
The rowdy session began on Thursday when the Deputy Spokesperson for the House, Rep. Philip Agbese (LP-Benue), moved a motion of Personal Explanation.
Agbese drew the attention of the house to an alleged signature forgery.
The lawmaker said that he was shocked to see on social media a list of members of the house who had signed and endorsed Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere (APP-Imo) to emerge as the next minority leader.
He cited some reports which showed that the signatories were given some amount of money to the tune of 50,000 dollars as incentives to endorse the candidate.
“This is my integrity I am talking about. I never signed any document, and I never received any amount of money, and I will never do.
“I will tender the list to the house as well as the link to the online report for this house to investigate the matter,” he said.
Ruling on the matter, the Speaker of the House, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, said that the motion was noted and that the house would take action in due course.
However, shortly after the ruling, Ugochinyere, in a motion of personal explanation, said that there was need to respond to the allegations raised by Agbese on live plenary.
He explained that Agbese was absent at the minority caucus meeting where he was selected as minority leader by an overwhelming majority of the caucus, with 61 members signing the endorsement.
The lawmaker said that Agbese followed him to his office to append his signature on the document where other members had voted for his emergence.
Ugochinyere promised to provide evidences and witnesses to confirm his position, saying that there was no case of forgery of any sort.
Agbese, however, interrupted Ugochinyere, insisting that he never signed any document.
At this point, members, standing across their seats and in very loud voices, engaged in a shouting match.
After several minutes of rowdiness, the speaker called the house to order, saying that a minority caucus meeting had already been fixed where all disagreements would be discussed.
With many members still raising their hands to speak, the presiding officer gave room and Rep. Solomon Bob (APC-Rivers) said that according to House Rule 7 (15), only experienced members can be principal officers.
He said that Ugochinyere had barely spent three years in the house where there are opposition members with more than 10 years’ experience.
The lawmaker added that Ugochinyere should not be allowed to emerge.
Rep. Dagomie Abiante (APC-Rivers) also said that the position of Ugochinyere should not be allowed to enter the records of the house but should be ignored and deleted.
The speaker, however, maintained his position, saying that all contributions on the matter would be taken at the minority caucus meeting, and then proceeded with the agenda for the day.(NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)
