The member representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State in the House of Representatives, Ikenga Ugochinyere, has declared interest in the position of Minority Leader of the House.
NewsWatch Nigeria understand that the position is currently occupied by the lawmaker representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency of Rivers State, Kingsley Chinda.
Ugochinyere, in a statement he personally signed, said it was time for Chinda to leave the position.
Declaring his intention to contest the minority leader position, Ugochinyere said consultations would begin immediately.
He said, “I intend to run for the office of minority leader so that I can start my consultation this evening.”
The lawmaker also described himself as a “minority leader, hopefully, in the expected vacancy.”
Ugochinyere alleged that Chinda had purchased the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship form, claiming that Chinda and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had concluded that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was no longer viable for their political ambitions.
He said, “I heard the minority leader, Hon. OK Chinda, has allegedly purchased the APC governorship form after Chinda and Wike realized that the PDP platform is no longer viable for them.”
He urged Chinda to confirm or deny the claim. Ugochinyere warned that if the information was correct, Chinda should resign to avoid impeachment.
He said it would be in Chinda’s “best honourable time to quit to avoid your impeachment, which the numbers to carry it out have been secured.”
The Imo lawmaker said even if the allegation about the APC form was untrue, Chinda should still step down in the interest of the opposition.
He said, “With or without even buying the APC form, as a brother, I urge you to step down because the majority of opposition lawmakers have since lost confidence in you and have resolved to impeach you if you don’t take the honourable path.”
Ugochinyere also accused Chinda and Wike of undermining opposition politics in Nigeria.
He alleged that they “contributed 80 per cent to the destruction of opposition politics.”
Ugochinyere accused Chinda of failing in his role as Minority Leader by allegedly prioritising Wike’s interest over that of the opposition bloc.
He said, “You will agree that our inability to act decisively has aided your stay in an office that you were not committed to its ideals because you decided to elevate Wike’s interest over opposition interest.
“Time is up, sir. Voluntary step down this evening is the only way to save you from what is coming.”
