House of Representatives was yesterday thrown into a rowdy session as the deputy spokesperson, Hon. Philip Agbese (LP, Benue), alleged that his signature was forged on a circulated list of opposition members who endorsed Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere as minority leader.
About 61 members of the Minority Caucus reportedly nominated Ugochinyere, a member of the Action People’s Party (APP), for the minority leadership position, with Agbese’s name and signature appearing on the list.
This is just as there are allegations of financial inducement involving lawmakers who supported Ugochinyere.
The position of House Minority Leader became vacant following the resignation and defection of the former occupant, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he emerged as the party’s Rivers State governorship candidate.
Raising a motion of personal privilege on the floor of the House, Hon. Agbese denied ever endorsing Ugochinyere, saying the publication in the newspaper and the use of his signature infringed on his privilege as a member of the Minority Caucus.
“Yesterday, I saw a document on the internet with my name reportedly nominating a member of this House for the post of Minority Leader.
“I had conversed, deliberated and visited many members of this House. One of the persons I had such discussions with was my colleague, Honourable Ikenga Ugochinyere. Our discussion was basically centred on the welfare of members of the minority.
“Number two was on the issue of the executive not adhering to issues concerning our constituency projects.
“The person who signed this document, Honourable Seyi, I have not seen him since December 2025, so I am at a loss and I feel that my legislative privilege has been breached because this amounts to forgery for my signature to be used for purposes which were not intended.
“I saw on a social media blog that members have received a certain amount of money. I have not received any amount of money from anybody.
“My constituents have been calling me to know. This is not the first time my name is being mentioned in an issue like this. I don’t want to be involved and I don’t want my name to be further maligned as far as this is concerned because I have a right as a member of this House for my privileges to be fully protected,” he added.
Speaking further, Agbese said, “This is my integrity I am talking about. I never signed any document and I never received any amount of money, and I will never do so.
“I will tender the list to the House as well as the link to the online report for this House to investigate the matter,” he said.
In his ruling, the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, said the motion was noted and that the House would take action in due course.
However, shortly after the ruling,
Ugochinyere, in a motion of personal explanation, said there was a need to respond to the allegations raised by Agbese during a live broadcast.
He explained to the House that Agbese was absent at the meeting where he was selected as Minority Leader by an overwhelming majority of the caucus.
According to him, Agbese followed him to his office to append his signature to the document on which other members had voted for his emergence.
Ugochinyere promised to provide evidence and witnesses to support his position, insisting that there was no case of forgery of any sort.
However, Agbese interrupted Ugochinyere, insisting that he never signed any document. Members then stood across their seats and, in loud voices, engaged in a shouting match.
After several minutes of a rowdy session and efforts by the Speaker to calm the House, he stated that a Minority Caucus meeting had already been fixed for 2 p.m. and that all disagreements would be discussed there.
With many members still raising their hands to speak, the presiding officer gave the floor to Hon. Solomon Bob (APC, Rivers), who said that according to House Rule 7(15), only experienced members can serve as principal officers.
He argued that Ugochinyere had barely spent three years in the House, where there are opposition members with many more years of experience, insisting that the Imo lawmaker should not be allowed to emerge.
However, another lawmaker, Hon. Dagomie Abiante (APC, Rivers), said Ugochinyere’s position should not be allowed into the records of the House and should not be captured but ignored and deleted.
Speaker Abbas submitted that all contributions on the matter would be taken at the Minority Caucus meeting and then proceeded with the agenda for the day.
