Minority Leadership Tussle Deepens as Ozodinobi Dismisses Ugochinyere’s Bid, Agbese Alleges Forgery

The race to fill the vacant Minority Leader position in the House of Representatives has taken a dramatic turn, with Acting Minority Leader, George Ozodinobi, dismissing the reported ambition of Imo lawmaker, Ikenga Ugochinyere, as a breach of parliamentary tradition.

Ozodinobi’s reaction follows reports that at least 61 opposition lawmakers had endorsed Ugochinyere, who represents Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State, for the position left vacant by the resignation of former Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda.

Chinda stepped down from the role during plenary last week after securing the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 Rivers State governorship election.

His exit has sparked a fierce contest within the opposition caucus, with various lawmakers positioning themselves for the influential office.

Speaking in Abuja, Ozodinobi, a member of the Nigeria Democratic Congress and current acting minority leader, argued that House tradition does not support the emergence of a first-term legislator as a principal officer.

“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,” he said.

Despite his criticism of Ugochinyere’s aspiration, Ozodinobi maintained that he was not desperate to become the substantive Minority Leader.

“For me, I am not overly ambitious,” he added.

Agbese Rejects Endorsement, Alleges Misuse of Signature

The controversy intensified after Deputy House Spokesman, Philip Agbese, publicly disowned an endorsement linked to Ugochinyere’s nomination.

Agbese claimed that his signature was used without his consent on documents purportedly backing Ugochinyere’s bid.

According to the Benue lawmaker, he signed a document in the presence of Ugochinyere and another colleague under the impression that it was a proposal advocating equitable distribution of principal offices among minority parties, not a nomination form.

“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,” Agbese stated.

He stressed that his support was limited to promoting fairness and inclusiveness within the opposition bloc.

“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 as a serious breach of trust, Agbese accused those responsible of misrepresentation and forgery.

“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 declared.

The lawmaker further challenged anyone claiming to possess a nomination form bearing his signature to subject it to forensic examination.

“I challenge anyone in possession of such a document to submit it for forensic analysis. The truth must prevail,” he added.

Agbese disclosed that he had already petitioned relevant authorities and expressed confidence that investigations would uncover the facts surrounding the controversy.

He also urged Nigerians and political stakeholders to disregard reports suggesting that he endorsed Ugochinyere for the minority leadership position.

Opposition Caucus Faces Growing Divisions

The unfolding dispute has exposed deepening divisions within the opposition caucus of the House of Representatives, raising concerns about the process for selecting a successor to Chinda.

With competing interests, allegations of forgery, and disagreements over parliamentary procedure dominating the conversation, the contest for the minority leadership is shaping up to be one of the most contentious leadership battles in the 10th National Assembly.

The Minority Leader position remains one of the most strategic offices in the House, serving as the voice of opposition parties and a key figure in legislative debates and negotiations.