The battle for the Minority Leadership of the House of Representatives has taken a fresh turn as acting minority leader, George Ozodinobi, dismissed the reported bid by the member representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere, describing the move as “a joke taken too far.”
The controversy follows reports that no fewer than 61 lawmakers had endorsed Ugochinyere for the position following the resignation of former Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda.
Chinda formally stepped down during plenary last week after securing the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress for the 2027 governorship election in Rivers State.
His resignation created a vacuum in the minority leadership structure and triggered a fresh contest among opposition lawmakers.
Prior to Chinda’s resignation, Ozodinobi, a member of the Nigeria Democratic Congress and acting minority leader, had been performing the functions of the office and was widely considered a leading contender for the substantive position.
Speaking with The in Abuja, Ozodinobi argued that parliamentary tradition does not support the aspiration of a first-term lawmaker to a principal office in the House.
He said, “We have a tradition in our House Rules that a first timer cannot constitute a nuisance to the extent of aspiring for a principal office of the House. This is a joke taken too far.”
The lawmaker, however, insisted that he was not desperate to succeed Chinda.
“For me, I am not overly ambitious,” he stated.
The latest development comes amid growing divisions within the minority caucus over the process of selecting a replacement for Chinda.
While supporters of Ugochinyere have claimed majority backing among opposition lawmakers, questions have emerged over the authenticity of some endorsements contained in the nomination documents submitted on his behalf.
One of those questioning the process is the Deputy Spokesman of the House, Philip Agbese, who has publicly disowned the use of his signature in support of Ugochinyere’s nomination.
On Friday, Agbese said his signature had been used without his authorisation for a purpose entirely different from what he had agreed to.
The Benue lawmaker disclosed that he raised the matter on the floor of the House during plenary on Thursday under Order 6 Rule 2, expressing concern over what he described as the misuse of his signature and subsequent attempts to justify the action.
According to him, he signed a document in the company of Ugochinyere and another lawmaker under the impression that it related to a proposal seeking equitable distribution of principal offices among minority parties.
In a statement he sent to our correspondent, Agbese said, “For the avoidance of doubt, I signed a document with Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere and another colleague concerning a proposal that sought equitable sharing of principal positions among minority parties in the House.
“At no time was I informed, nor did I consent, that the said document would be converted into or used as a nomination form for Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere as Minority Leader.”
He maintained that his support was limited strictly to the principle of inclusiveness among opposition parties and not to the endorsement of any individual.
“My support was solely for fairness, inclusion, and justice among the minority caucuses, not for the endorsement of any individual for any leadership position,” he said.
Describing the alleged conversion of the document into a nomination form as a serious breach of trust, Agbese added: “The subsequent use of my signature to support a nomination I neither approved nor endorsed constitutes a gross misrepresentation and a clear case of forgery.”
He further denied signing any nomination form in support of Ugochinyere and challenged anyone in possession of such a document to subject it to forensic scrutiny.
“I challenge anyone in possession of such a document to submit it for forensic analysis. The truth must prevail,” he added.
The lawmaker also revealed that he had petitioned the relevant authorities and expressed confidence that a thorough investigation would establish the facts.
“This matter has already been formally reported to the appropriate authorities for investigation, and I have full confidence in the institutions responsible for uncovering the truth and ensuring accountability,” he said.
Agbese urged members of the public and political stakeholders to disregard claims that he had endorsed Ugochinyere’s bid for the minority leadership.
“I urge the public, my constituents, and all stakeholders to disregard any false narrative suggesting that I endorsed Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere for the position of Minority Leader. Such claims are entirely untrue and misleading.”
He added that his actions were guided by integrity and respect for due process.
“As a legislator and public servant, I remain committed to integrity, transparency, and the rule of law. Public trust is sacred and must never be undermined through deceit or manipulation.
“I appreciate the support and understanding of Nigerians and assure them that I will continue to stand for what is right, just, and in the best interest of democratic governance,” he said.
The unfolding dispute has exposed fresh fault lines within the opposition caucus in the House, with competing interests and questions over procedure threatening to complicate the process of choosing a new Minority Leader.
The position is one of the principal offices in the House and traditionally serves as the voice of opposition parties in the Green Chamber.