61 Opposition Lawmakers Back Ugochinyere for House Minority Leader Position

By Kehinde Awosina 





A total of 61 out of the 81 opposition members in the House of Representatives have reportedly endorsed Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere for the position of Minority Leader following the defection of former Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The lawmakers, drawn from several opposition parties including the NDC, ADC, APGA, Labour Party (LP), PRP, APP, APM, SDP, and Accord Party, are said to have conveyed their decision in a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, .

Ugochinyere, who currently serves as Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), is emerging as the leading contender for the minority leadership position following the endorsement by the majority of opposition lawmakers.

However, the move has reportedly sparked opposition from some members of the House who are said to be backing Hon. Frederick Agbedi, representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State. Supporters of Agbedi argue that the minority leadership seat should remain in the South-South geopolitical zone, where the outgoing Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, hails from.

Some lawmakers are also reportedly questioning Ugochinyere's suitability for the role on the grounds that he belongs to the APP, one of the smallest political parties represented in the House, with only two members.

Despite the emerging opposition, Ugochinyere's supporters insist that his endorsement by 61 lawmakers reflects the democratic choice of the majority of opposition members and should be respected by the House leadership.

Attention is now focused on Speaker Abbas, whose decision on whether to formally recognize the nomination could determine the next phase of the leadership contest within the opposition caucus.

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