By EricJames Ochigbo
Proceedings in the House of Representatives at Thursday’s plenary degenerated into a rowdy session over who becomes the next Minority Leader, following the resignation of Rep. Kingsley Chinda.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Chinda, now the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the 2027 governorship elections in Rivers, announced his resignation on Tuesday.
NAN also reports that the rowdy session began 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 he was shocked to see a list on social media of House members who had signed in support of Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere (APP-Imo) to become the next minority leader.
He cited reports showing that the signatories were given up to $ 50,000 in incentives to endorse the candidate.
“This is the integrity I am talking about. I never signed any document, never received any money, and never will.
“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 there was a need to respond to Agbese’s allegations in 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 to the document on which other members had voted for his emergence.
Ugochinyere promised to provide evidence 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.
The lawmaker added that Ugochinyere should not be allowed to emerge.
Dagomie Abiante (APC-Rivers) also said that Ugochinyere’s position 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 day’s agenda.
