BREAKING: Drama In Nat’l Assembly As Lawmaker Denies Nominating Ugochinyere For Minority Leader

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The House of Representatives was thrown into a rowdy session on Thursday after Philip Agbese, the lawmaker representing the Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo federal constituency, vehemently denied endorsing Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere for the position of Minority Leader.

Agbese raised a point of privilege during plenary, alleging that his signature was fraudulently forged on a document nominating Ugochinyere for the key leadership position.

“I feel that my legislative privilege has been breached because this amounts to forgery for my signature to be used for purposes for which it was not intended,” Agbese said.

The lawmaker said there were reports circulating on social media alleging that some lawmakers had received $50,000 to support a particular candidate for the minority leadership position.

“My constituents have been calling me. I have not received any amount of money from anybody, and I will not do so. This is my integrity,” he declared.

In response, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen acknowledged Agbese’s complaints and assured him that the matter would be addressed.

“We will take action on the issue you have raised in due course. However, I want to again bring to the attention of all minority members that I am inviting every minority member of this House to a closed-door meeting today by 2 p.m. so that we can discuss further,” Abbas said.

However, Ugochinyere dismissed the forgery allegation as “a treacherous lie” and said he would present witnesses who were present when the nomination document was signed.
The Speaker once again stepped in, urging lawmakers to halt further exchanges and allow the issue to be addressed at the scheduled meeting of opposition members.

Before order was fully restored, another lawmaker raised a point of order, insisting that Ugochinyere’s claim of being elected by opposition lawmakers be removed from the House records, arguing that the matter was not formally before the chamber.

The lawmaker said that only the opposition caucus had the authority to determine and officially communicate its leadership to the House.

The development comes a day after reports emerged that Ikenga Ugochinyere, the lawmaker representing the Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State, had been nominated as the new Minority Leader of the House.

Ugochinyere was reportedly backed by 61 members of the House drawn from various opposition political parties.

Ugochinyere, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Action Peoples Party (APP) in January, was set to succeed Kingsley Chinda. Chinda, the lawmaker representing the Obio/Akpor federal constituency in Rivers State, vacated the minority leader post after defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to emerge as the party’s governorship candidate for Rivers State.

In a letter dated June 3, 2026, and addressed to the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, the coalition of lawmakers stated that Ugochinyere’s nomination reflected the preference of the majority of opposition members in the green chamber. The signatories comprised members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Labour Party (LP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Accord Party.

The lawmakers who reportedly signed the letter are Ugochinyere (APP, Imo), Aliyu Abdullahi (ADC, Kaduna), Aniekwe Udogalanya (NDC, Anambra), Shehu Dalhatu (PDP, Katsina), Aliyu Misau (APM, Bauchi), Matthew Nwogu (APP, Imo), Ojo Makanjuola (APM, Oyo), Anthony Adepoju (APM, Oyo), Isah Ambarura (ADC, Sokoto), Sani Noma (ADC, Kebbi), Umar Zakari (NDC, Kano), Adamu Wakili (NDC, Kano), Datti Umar (NDC, Kano), Abdulhakeem Ado (NDC, Kano), Philip Agbese (LP, Benue), Dahiru Sarki (SDP, Nasarawa), Thaddeus Attah (NDC, Lagos), Gwacham Chinwe (APGA, Anambra), Obinna Aguocha (LP, Abia), and Nnabuife Clara (APGA, Anambra).
Others are Peter Uzokwe (NDC, Anambra), Emeka Obiajulu (NDC, Anambra), Oyedeji Oyeshina (APM, Oyo), Joshua Obika (NDC, FCT), Okonkwo Harris (NDC, Anambra), Oluwande George (NDC, Lagos), Jesse Onuakalusi (NDC, Lagos), Oladebo Omoleye (ACCORD, Osun), Mudashiru Alani (ACCORD, Osun), Mani Katami (ADC, Sokoto), Usman Basiru (ADC, Sokoto), Ibe Osonwa (LP, Abia), Alexanda Ikwechegh (LP, Abia), Omoruyi Osaro (NDC, Edo), Aliyu Garu (APM, Bauchi), Auwalu Gwalabe (APM, Bauchi), Hashimu Adamu (APM, Bauchi), Akanni Ademola (ACCORD, Osun), Adewale Adebayo (ACCORD, Osun), and Adetunji Olusoji (ACCORD, Osun).
Also on the list are Okafor Ifeanyi (APGA, Anambra), Onwusibe Obinna (LP, Abia), Zubairu Usman (ADC, Kaduna), Abdulmaleek Danga (PDP, Kogi), Oluwaseyi Sowumi (NDC, Lagos), Madawaki Dahiru (PDP, Jigawa), Sani Tanko (APM, Bauchi), Umar Yabo (ADC, Sokoto), Bello el-Rufai (ADC, Kaduna), Ajilo Shehu (ADC, Kaduna), Yahaya Richifa (ADC, Kaduna), Gana Audu (PDP, Niger), Abel Fuoh (PDP, Taraba), Sani Lawal (ADC, Katsina), Fola Oyekunle (APM, Oyo), Amobi Ogah (LP, Abia), Adamu Yakubu (PDP, Jigawa), Abdullahi El-Rasheed (ADC, Gombe), Esosa Iyame (NDC, Edo), Bala Rabiu (PDP, Bauchi), and Abubakar Zango (ADC, Adamawa).