Ugochinyere loses bid to become Minority Leader as House of Reps bars first-term lawmakers from principal leadership positions
Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, the lawmaker representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency in Imo State, has lost his bid to become Minority Leader in the House of Representatives following a resolution restricting first-term lawmakers from holding principal offices.
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The decision was taken during plenary on Wednesday after lawmakers adopted a motion sponsored by Babajimi Benson, who represents Ikorodu Federal Constituency of Lagos State.
The House clarified Order 7, Rule 15 of its Standing Orders, which stipulates that only members with cognate legislative experience in the House of Representatives are eligible for appointment as principal officers.
The resolution effectively disqualified first-term members from occupying key leadership positions within the chamber.
Ugochinyere had been nominated by some opposition lawmakers last week for the Minority Leader position following the exit of Kingsley Chinda, who vacated the role after emerging as the APC governorship candidate for Rivers State.
However, the nomination process became controversial amid claims and counterclaims within the opposition ranks.
Deputy House spokesperson Philip Agbese, a Labour Party lawmaker, denied endorsing Ugochinyere, alleging that his signature was forged on the nomination document.
Ugochinyere dismissed the allegation, insisting that Agbese had indeed signed the endorsement and even released a video as supporting evidence.
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The development underscores ongoing tensions within the House opposition caucus over leadership selection and internal party alignments.
