The House of Representatives was thrown into a rowdy session on Thursday, June 4, as the Deputy Spokesperson of the House, Philip Agbese, accused the signatures on a circulated list of opposition lawmakers purportedly endorsing Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere for the position of Minority Leader, were forged.
It was gathered that the controversy followed reports that 61 members of the Minority Caucus allegedly appended their signatures to a document nominating Ugochinyere, a member of the Action People’s Party, for the principal office.
Agbese’s name and signature were allegedly included on the list, a development he rejected on the floor of the House.
The matter was further complicated by a report by an online newspaper, Aljazirah, which alleged that each of the 61 lawmakers collected $50,000 before affixing their signatures to the document.
Agbese Seeks Privilege Motion
Agbese, who came under a motion of personal privilege, said the publication and the use of his name on the endorsement list had violated his privilege as a member of the House and that of the Minority Caucus.
He denied having signed any document nominating Ugochinyere as the Minority Leader, saying his signature was used without his consent.
“Yesterday I saw on the internet a document with my name allegedly nominating a member of this House for the post of minority leader,” he said.
Agbese explained that while he had held discussions with several lawmakers including Ugochinyere, such discussions were not about endorsing anyone for the position of Minority Leader.
He said his dealings with Ugochinyere was in respect of the welfare of minority lawmakers and issues of constituency projects.
I had spoken, argued and visited many members of this House. One of the people I had such discussions with was my colleague, Honourable Ikenga Ugochinyere. We mainly discussed the welfare of the minority members.
“Number two was on the issue of the executive not adhering to issues to do with our constituency projects,” he said.
‘My Signature Was Faked’
Agbese said he did not authorise anyone to put his name or signature on the nomination list.
He said he hadn’t seen the person who purportedly signed the document for him in months.
“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,” he said.
The legislator also denied having received any money from anyone regarding the alleged endorsement.
“I read on a social media blog that members were given so much money. “I did not get any amount of money from anybody,” he said.
The allegation has generated concerns among his constituents who have been calling him to seek clarification, Agbese said.
“My constituents have been phoning me to find out. This is not the first time my name has been mentioned in an issue like this. “I do not want to be involved and I do not want my name 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.
The matter, he said, was about his personal integrity and the House should properly investigate it.
“This is me being honest. I mean, I never signed any document and I never received any amount of money and I will never do.
“I will bring the list to the House plus the link to the online report for this House to look into the matter,” he said.
House will act, speaker says
The Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, ruled that Agbese’s motion had been noted and assured that the House would take appropriate action in due course.
However, shortly after the ruling, Ugochinyere stood on a motion of personal explanation, arguing that he needed to respond to the allegations made against him on live broadcast.
Ugochinyere told the House that Agbese was absent at the meeting where he was chosen by what he described as an overwhelming majority of the Minority Caucus.
However, he said Agbese later followed him to his office to append his signature on the document already signed by other members who supported his emergence.
Ugochinyere said he would produce evidence and witnesses to back his position, insisting there was no forgery.
Naija News understands that the chamber became rowdy after Agbese interrupted Ugochinyere, claiming that he never signed any document.
Several lawmakers jumped from their seats and got into a shouting match, and the Speaker repeatedly called for calm.
After a few minutes of disorder, Abbas reminded members that a meeting of the Minority Caucus had already been scheduled for 2pm, where the issue would be discussed at length.
Even with the Speaker’s intervention, a number of members kept their hands up to speak on the issue.
Rivers Lawmakers kick against Ugochinyere’s attempt
Solomon Bob, an APC lawmaker from Rivers State, cited House Rule 7(15), saying only experienced members should occupy principal offices.
Bob said Ugochinyere had spent less than three years in the House while opposition lawmakers had more than 10 years of legislative experience.
He insisted Ugochinyere should not be allowed to surface as Minority Leader.
Another APC lawmaker from Rivers State, Dagomie Abiante, also spoke, saying that Ugochinyere’s explanation should not be allowed to enter the records of the House.
Abiante argued that the position canvassed by Ugochinyere should be ignored and expunged from the records.
But Speaker Abbas insisted that all contributions and grievances on the matter should be taken to the Minority Caucus meeting.
He then took the House to the agenda for the day, ending the heated exchange on the floor.
