Minority Leader race: Reps in rowdy session over alleged signature forgery

*Minority Reps insist Agbese signed document endorsing Ugochinyere as leader

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. Kingsly 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 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 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.

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.

Meanwhile, the G-60 minority caucus in the House of Representatives has dismissed allegations that signatures on the nomination document endorsing Ikenga Ugochinyere for the position of Minority Leader were forged, insisting that all lawmakers who supported the move signed voluntarily.

The caucus also released video evidence, showing a man said to be the House Deputy spokesperson, Philip Agbese, personally signing the nomination document in what appeared to be a contradiction of Agbese’s allegation on the floor of the House on Thursday that his signature had been forged.

In a statement issued on behalf of the group by Mukhtar Umar and Seyi Sowunmi, the lawmakers described Agbese’s claim as “false and misleading” and accused him of attempting to discredit a democratic process.

“We note with concern the allegation by Hon. Philip Agbese that his signature was forged on the endorsement list. This claim is false and misleading.

“To establish the facts and dispel any misinformation, video evidence exists showing Hon. Agbese personally signing the nomination document, and it will be sent out with this statement in the interest of transparency and accountability,” the group said.

The caucus maintained that there was no forgery or fake signature in the nomination of the Imo lawmaker, stressing that 61 of the 81 lawmakers that make up the Minority Caucus willingly endorsed his candidacy.

According to the lawmakers, the nomination was initiated to fill the vacancy created by the departure of former Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, following his defection to the All Progressives Congress and emergence as the party’s governorship candidate in Rivers State.

 “Out of the 81 members that constitute the Minority Caucus, 61 lawmakers willingly signed in support of Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere’s nomination,” the statement added.

The controversy erupted after Agbese challenged the authenticity of the endorsement list during plenary, alleging that his signature had been fraudulently appended to the document submitted in support of Ugochinyere’s emergence as Minority Leader.

However, the G-60 lawmakers insisted that the process was transparent and enjoyed majority backing within the opposition caucus.

“We remain committed to due process, unity, and the collective interest of opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives. Attempts to discredit a transparent and democratic process through unfounded allegations should be discouraged,” the statement added.

The development is the latest twist in the ongoing leadership contest within the minority bloc of the House, where competing interests have intensified debates over who should occupy key opposition positions following recent political realignments and defections.