…group claim CCTV footage show lawmaker signing endorsement document
By Gloria Ikibah
The G-60 Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives has dismissed allegations that signatures on the nomination document endorsing Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere for the position of Minority Leader were forged, insisting that all lawmakers who signed the document did so voluntarily. 
The group’s response comes barely hours after a dramatic session on the floor of the House in which Deputy House Spokesperson, Rep. Philip Agbese, alleged that his signature had been forged on a list endorsing Ugochinyere’s emergence as Minority Leader.
The dispute is the latest twist in the battle for the leadership of the minority caucus following the resignation of former Minority Leader, Rep. Kingsley Chinda.
In a statement signed by Rep. Mukhtar Umar and Rep. Seyi Sowunmi on behalf of the G-60 Minority Caucus, lawmakers maintained that the endorsement process was transparent and enjoyed overwhelming support among opposition members.
“There is no forgery or fake signature in the nomination of Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere of the Action People’s Party (APP) for the position of Minority Leader.
“Contrary to claims made by the Deputy Spokesperson of the House, Hon. Philip Agbese at the plenary today, all signatures appended to the nomination document were voluntarily provided by the lawmakers concerned. Out of the 81 members that constitute the Minority Caucus, 61 lawmakers willingly signed in support of Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere’s nomination to fill the vacancy created by the exit of Hon. Kingsley Chinda following his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his subsequent emergence as the party’s governorship candidate in Rivers State”, the caucus said.
The lawmakers directly challenged Agbese’s claim that his signature was forged, describing the allegation as inaccurate and misleading.
The group said the controversy should not be allowed to undermine what it described as a democratic and transparent process carried out by members of the opposition caucus.
According to the caucus, “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.
“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. We urge members of the public and the media to disregard claims of forgery and rely on verifiable facts regarding the nomination process.”
The latest development is expected to intensify the ongoing contest over the leadership of the minority bloc, with the House leadership already moving to engage opposition lawmakers in consultations aimed at resolving the dispute.
At the centre of the controversy is Ugochinyere’s claim that 61 of the 81 minority lawmakers have endorsed his nomination for Minority Leader, a development that has exposed deep divisions within the opposition caucus and triggered competing claims over the legitimacy of the process.
With both sides standing firmly by their positions and fresh evidence now being cited by the G-60 group, attention is likely to shift to any formal investigation by the House leadership into the allegations and counter-allegations surrounding the minority leadership contest.
