A fresh twist has emerged in the race for the leadership of the opposition caucus in the House of Representatives, as 61 out of 81 minority lawmakers have reportedly endorsed Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere as the Minority Leader-designate and formally submitted his nomination to Speaker Abbas Tajudeen for announcement.
The development follows the vacancy created by the defection of former Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, to the ruling APC, after which he emerged as the party’s governorship candidate in Rivers State.
Documents sighted by our correspondent indicate that lawmakers drawn from the NDC, ADC, LP, APGA, APP, APM, SDP, ACCORD, PRP and PDP collectively endorsed Ugochinyere as their preferred choice to lead the opposition bloc in the Green Chamber.
The lawmakers were said to have transmitted the signed nomination to Speaker Abbas Tajudeen in line with the provisions of Order 7, Rule 7 of the House Standing Orders, which empowers minority members to elect their leader.
Sources within the opposition caucus, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed confidence that the Speaker would announce the decision of the minority lawmakers in the coming days, thereby enabling the opposition leadership structure to be fully constituted.
According to the lawmakers, consultations are also ongoing to fill other vacant minority leadership positions, including Deputy Minority Leader and Minority Whip, with one of the slots already reportedly ceded to an NDC member from the North-West.
Defending their choice, the lawmakers cited Ugochinyere’s legislative record, noting that he has sponsored and moved over 40 bills, motions and petitions within three years in the House, in addition to serving for four years as Senior Adviser to the Senate President.
“The power to choose belongs to the majority of minority members, and that power has now been exercised,” one lawmaker said.
They further argued that parliamentary leadership positions have historically been determined by the will of lawmakers rather than zoning arrangements, citing examples including the emergence of former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, former Speaker Yakubu Dogara, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio despite prevailing zoning expectations at the time.
The opposition lawmakers maintained that Ugochinyere’s three years of legislative experience, coupled with his parliamentary background, make him suitably qualified for the position.
The endorsement document was signed by 61 lawmakers across party, regional and religious lines, representing what supporters describe as an overwhelming majority of the minority caucus in the House, according to the document obtained by our reporter
With the nomination now before the Speaker, attention has shifted to the House leadership as lawmakers await the formal announcement of the new Minority Leader and the completion of the opposition leadership structure.
