Minority Leadership Tussle Throws Reps into Chaos as Agbese, Ugochinyere Clash Over Forgery Allegation

A fierce battle over the leadership of the opposition caucus erupted on the floor of the House of Representatives on Thursday, throwing plenary into a rowdy session as lawmakers exchanged accusations over alleged forgery, blackmail and attempts to influence the race for the position of Minority Leader.

The dramatic confrontation exposed deep divisions within the opposition bloc as rival camps intensified their struggle for control of key minority leadership positions.

The controversy began when the member representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State, Hon. Philip Agbese, rose on a matter of personal privilege to accuse his colleague, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, of using his signature without authorisation on a document allegedly nominating him for the office of Minority Leader.

Addressing lawmakers during plenary, Agbese said he was stunned after discovering a nomination document circulating online bearing his name and signature in support of Ugochinyere’s leadership bid.

The Benue lawmaker maintained that while he had engaged in discussions with several colleagues, including Ugochinyere, on matters affecting minority lawmakers and constituency projects, he never endorsed any document supporting the Imo lawmaker’s aspiration.

“I feel that my legislative privilege has been breached because this amounts to forgery for my signature to be used for purposes for which it was not intended,” Agbese declared.

He called on the House leadership to investigate the matter thoroughly and prevent what he described as attempts to tarnish his reputation.

Agbese also used the opportunity to deny reports circulating on social media alleging that lawmakers were offered as much as $50,000 to support a particular candidate in the minority leadership contest.

“My constituents have been calling me. I have not received any amount of money from anybody, and I will not do so. This is my integrity,” he said.

Responding to the complaint, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen assured Agbese that the matter would receive appropriate attention while urging lawmakers to avoid escalating tensions on the floor.

The Speaker disclosed that he had convened a closed-door meeting involving all minority lawmakers later in the day to address the growing leadership dispute.

“We will take action on the issue you have raised in due course. However, I want to again bring to the attention of all minority members that I am inviting every minority member of this House to a closed-door meeting today by 2 p.m. so that we can discuss further,” Abbas said.

However, the situation took a dramatic turn when Ugochinyere sought permission from the Speaker to make a personal explanation.

The Imo lawmaker strongly denied the forgery allegation and insisted that Agbese personally signed the nomination document supporting his aspiration.

According to Ugochinyere, the endorsement took place during a meeting attended by several lawmakers who could testify to the circumstances surrounding the signing. He argued that Agbese voluntarily appended his signature to the document and that witnesses were available to confirm the development.

The claim immediately triggered loud protests from Agbese, who repeatedly interrupted Ugochinyere's remarks.

“I never did that!” Agbese shouted repeatedly.

The disagreement quickly escalated into a shouting match as lawmakers from opposing camps joined the exchange, forcing the Speaker to repeatedly call for order. Despite the tension, Ugochinyere maintained that he enjoyed overwhelming support among opposition lawmakers.

“I understand that at the moment, the overwhelming majority of 61 members out of 81 opposition members elected me. It may not go down well with some people, but I never expected that their desperation would get to this level,” he said. He described the forgery allegation as “a treacherous lie” and vowed to produce witnesses to support his claims.

The Speaker once again intervened, urging both lawmakers to exercise restraint and allow the issue to be resolved through internal consultations.

Before normalcy could fully return, another lawmaker raised a point of order, challenging Ugochinyere’s claim that he had already secured election as Minority Leader.

The member argued that such a declaration was premature because the issue was not formally before the House and no official decision had been communicated by the opposition caucus.

According to him, only the minority bloc possesses the constitutional authority to determine and present its leadership to the House.

The latest confrontation underscores growing tensions within the opposition caucus as competing factions continue to lobby for strategic leadership positions in the House of Representatives.

Political observers say the outcome of the closed-door meeting convened by Speaker Abbas could significantly shape the future direction and cohesion of the opposition bloc in the Green Chamber.

For now, the battle for minority leadership remains unresolved, with both camps standing firmly behind their claims as the House leadership seeks a pathway to consensus.