…as 61 of 81 minority members back him as successor to Chinda
By Gloria Ikibah
A major political realignment appears to be taking shape in the House of Representatives, with a majority of opposition lawmakers reportedly throwing their weight behind Rep. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere as the next Minority Leader of the Green Chamber. 
The development follows the vacancy created by the departure of former Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) after emerging as the governorship candidate of the ruling party in Rivers State.
According to documents made available to naijablitznews.com, 61 out of the 81 lawmakers in the opposition bloc have endorsed Ugochinyere as their preferred candidate for the position and have formally submitted their nomination to Speaker Abbas Tajudeen ahead of an expected announcement.
The endorsement cuts across several opposition parties, including the National Democratic Congress (NDC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Labour Party (LP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Accord Party, Action People’s Party (APP) and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
Sources within the minority caucus said the nomination was made in line with the provisions of the House Standing Orders, which empower minority members to elect their own leader.
Lawmakers involved in the process expressed optimism that the Speaker will act on the nomination and formally announce the new leadership structure of the opposition caucus in the coming days.
They also disclosed that consultations had been concluded on other vacant leadership positions within the minority bloc, including Deputy Minority Leader and Minority Whip, with one of the positions already allocated to a member of the NDC from the North-West.
According to the lawmakers, the remaining nominations are currently being harmonised and will be transmitted to the Speaker for formal recognition.
Explaining their support for Ugochinyere, members of the opposition caucus pointed to what they described as his strong legislative performance since joining the House. They noted that he had sponsored and championed more than 40 bills, motions and petitions within three years and had previously served for four years as Senior Adviser to the President of the Senate.
The lawmakers argued that parliamentary leadership is determined by majority support rather than sentiment, maintaining that the opposition caucus had exercised its constitutional right to choose its leader.
They further cited previous instances in the National Assembly where lawmakers elected leaders outside party zoning arrangements, insisting that legislative precedent favours democratic choice by members rather than predetermined political calculations.
The lawmakers also expressed readiness to work closely with members of the ruling party in advancing legislative business and delivering on the expectations of Nigerians.
With the nomination now before the Speaker, attention has shifted to the House leadership for formal confirmation of the opposition’s choice, a move that would complete the process of filling one of the most influential positions in the National Assembly following Chinda’s exit.
