Proceedings in the House of Representatives were interrupted on Thursday following a heated disagreement among opposition lawmakers over the race for Minority Leader, with allegations of document forgery taking centre stage.
The tension began when the lawmaker representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, Philip Agbese, raised a matter of personal privilege, accusing his colleague, Ikenga Ugochinyere, of attaching his name and signature to a nomination document without his consent.
Agbese told the chamber that he was surprised to discover a circulating document endorsing Ugochinyere’s bid, bearing what appeared to be his signature. He maintained that although he had engaged in discussions with several colleagues on legislative matters, he never authorised or signed any nomination in support of the leadership ambition.
Describing the development as a violation of his rights, Agbese called for an investigation and urged the House leadership to address what he characterised as an attempt to damage his reputation. He also denied reports suggesting that lawmakers were offered financial inducements to support specific candidates in the leadership contest.
In response, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen acknowledged the complaint and assured members that the issue would be reviewed. He, however, urged lawmakers to avoid prolonging the dispute during plenary and announced plans for a closed-door meeting with minority lawmakers to resolve the matter.
The situation escalated when Ugochinyere sought permission to respond, rejecting the allegations and insisting that Agbese had willingly signed the nomination form in the presence of other lawmakers. He stated that witnesses could confirm the endorsement.
His remarks triggered a heated exchange, with Agbese repeatedly interrupting to deny the claim. The disagreement quickly drew in other lawmakers, resulting in a noisy confrontation that disrupted proceedings.
Despite the tension, Ugochinyere maintained that his candidacy enjoyed majority backing among opposition members. However, another lawmaker later argued that such claims should not form part of official House records, noting that the opposition caucus must formally decide its leadership.
The incident highlights ongoing divisions within the opposition bloc as rival groups continue to compete for key leadership positions. The outcome of the planned meeting is expected to shape the direction of the minority caucus in the House.
