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…Agbese denies endorsing Ugochinyere, demand Probe

By Gloria Ikibah

Tempers flared in the House of Representatives on Thursday as allegations of forgery and claims that some lawmakers received $50,000 each to support the emergence of Rep. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere as Minority Leader plunged plenary into a chaotic and heated session.

The controversy erupted amid an ongoing battle over the leadership of the minority caucus following the resignation of former Minority Leader, Rep. Kingsley Chinda, whose resignation letter, effective April 23, 2026, was read by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen during Wednesday’s plenary.

The leadership contest has generated intense interest within the opposition bloc. Matters escalated after a list surfaced on Wednesday bearing the names and signatures of 61 out of the 81 minority lawmakers, purportedly endorsing Ugochinyere for the position.

However, the process came under scrutiny on Thursday when Rep. Philip Agbese, representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State, raised a matter of personal privilege and alleged that his signature had been forged.

Agbese also referenced reports circulating online alleging that lawmakers who endorsed Ugochinyere were paid $50,000 each, insisting he neither signed the nomination document nor received any money.

He said: “The full dignity and honor of this parliament as a member representing my federal constituency. Mr. Speaker, yesterday at about 6 p.m. my attention was drawn to a document on the internet with my name purportedly nominating a member of this house for the post of minority leader. Mr. Speaker, I recall that before this time in line with our fraternal relationship in this house I had conversed, deliberated and visited many members of this house.

“One of the persons I had such discussions with was my colleague Honorable Ikega Ugochinye. Our discussion was basically centered on the welfare of members of the minority. Number two was on the issue of the executive not adhering to certain issues on our constituency projects.

“The person who signed this document, I have not seen him since December 2025. So I’m at a loss and I feel that my legislative privilege has been breached because this amount to forgery for my signature to be used for purposes which not intended for. Mr. Speaker, I want to seek the leave of this house to probe and investigate and to stop further any use of my signature going further for any of this kind of purpose.

“Mr. Speaker, I also want to pray this Honorable House to stop Honorable Ikega and members of his team or his agents or anybody acting on his behalf from further maligning my name because I recall that in the past this morning I saw on a social media blog that members have received certain amount of money. I have not received any amount of money from anybody. I intend to tender this before the house and to further tender the news link where it was reported that I or other members whose names appear here have collected a sum of 50,000 Naira from any individual.

“I have not received any amount of money from anybody and I will not do so. This is my integrity. Mr. Speaker, this is my prayer before the house.

“I read 50,000 dollars. I will share the screen. I will share it with this house.

“My constituents have been calling me to know and this is not the first time my name is being mentioned in an issue like this so I don’t want to be involved and I don’t want my name to be further maligned as far as this is concerned because I have a right as a member of this house for my privileges to be fully protected and not to be destroyed by any member of this house”.

His remarks immediately heightened tensions in the chamber, with at least three lawmakers backing his call for an investigation and proposing that Ugochinyere be referred to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

The proposal, however, met stiff resistance from Ugochinyere and his supporters, who insisted that he be given an opportunity to respond to the allegations before any action was taken.

As lawmakers traded arguments across the floor, the chamber descended into a shouting match, forcing the House leadership to intervene.

When eventually recognised to speak under personal explanation, Ugochinyere firmly denied the allegations and maintained that Agbese had voluntarily endorsed his nomination.

He said: “By the indulgence of the house and the leave of the distinguished speaker, a member may make a personal explanation. Mr. Speaker, if you permit, my colleague Abese made some weighty allegations before every member here, and today we are on live transmission. Even though you have said you will intervene, it is also important that what he said on live TV needs to also be cleared.

“Mr. Speaker, my brother arrived from Benue late for our meeting, met me in the office, in the presence of some of my colleagues that I will bring forward, and voluntarily, on his own and independently, pledged and signed my nomination for the post of Minority Leader.

“In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, do I have your protection to proceed? Thank you Mr. Speaker, so Mr. Speaker, I subject to your fatherly decision that the matter, but it was important that such a treacherous lie and attempt to defame and blackmail should be vehemently refuted. Our colleagues who were there when he signed will be brought forward before you Mr. Speaker.

“I understand that at the moment, the overwhelming majority of 61 members out of 81 opposition members elected me. It may not go down well with some people, but I never expected that their desperation would get to this level. And also important Mr. Speaker, that those who are now more interested are those who are not even members of the minority.

“But I subject to your decision to rule on this matter as a father, but I must apply that people in seeking alternative options must apply decorum and abide by what is decent because this is outrageous and unacceptable”.

No sooner had Ugochinyere made the claim than Agbese rose in protest.

“No! I never did that! I never did that! No! Mr. Speaker, I never did that! No! I never did that! I never did that!” he shouted across the chamber.

Seeking to calm the situation, Rep. Awaji-Inombek Abiante argued that discussions relating to the election of a Minority Leader were premature and should not form part of the official records of the House.

He said: “I appreciate your efforts at enhancing peace amongst us and taking us to a preferred and probably more horrible destination, I want to put it on record that whatever has been said relative to electing a minority leader should be expunged from the records of this house because it is not before us.

“It is not before you. It should be expunged. We didn’t hear, we didn’t hear that from him.

“Members of the minority will come before all of us and we will know who the leader would be. So whatever he has said is just his personal opinion and it should never be anywhere in the records of this house”.

With the atmosphere becoming increasingly charged, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen stepped in and announced a closed-door meeting with all minority lawmakers in a bid to resolve the crisis.

“Your observations and complaints are duly noted. We will take action on the issue you have raised in due course. However, I want to again bring to the attention of all minorities that I’m inviting every minority member of this house to a closed door meeting today two o’clock so that we can discuss further.

“I don’t want us to further debate on this matter on the floor. It’s something within the family for us to discuss and take decision appropriately. So yours is noted and we’ll take action in due course.

“Please, honorable colleagues, let us not overheat this issue. We already have a meeting for 2 o’clock. Let us leave everything there”, Abbas said.

The latest confrontation follows Ugochinyere’s announcement that 61 of the 81 minority lawmakers had endorsed him as Minority Leader-designate and submitted his nomination to Speaker Abbas Tajudeen for formal recognition.

With the opposition caucus yet to reach a consensus on its leadership structure, Thursday’s dramatic exchanges have exposed deep divisions within the minority bloc and set the stage for an intense political battle in the days ahead.