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By Tracy Moses
A majority of opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives have endorsed Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere as Minority Leader, setting the stage for a reconfiguration of the minority leadership in the Green Chamber following the vacancy created by the defection of former Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Documents made available to journalists indicate that 61 out of the 81 lawmakers in the opposition caucus have formally backed Ugochinyere’s emergence as Minority Leader and have forwarded their decision to the Speaker of the House of Representatives for formal recognition.
The endorsement, which cuts across several opposition parties represented in the House, followed consultations among lawmakers after Chinda’s exit from the minority fold.
Those backing Ugochinyere are drawn from parties including the ADC, NDC, Labour Party, APGA, APP, APM, SDP, PRP and ACCORD, reflecting what supporters describe as a broad-based consensus within the opposition bloc.
According to sources familiar with the process, the signed nomination was submitted to the Speaker in line with the provisions of the House Standing Orders, which empower members of the minority caucus to elect their leaders.
The lawmakers maintain that their decision is consistent with Order 7, Rule 7 of the House Rules and reflects the collective will of the majority of opposition members.
Speaking anonymously, one of the lawmakers expressed confidence that the House leadership would respect the outcome of the process and formally announce the new minority leadership in the coming days.
“We believe the Speaker, as a presiding officer committed to fairness, will act on the nomination without delay so that the minority caucus can be properly constituted and functional,” the lawmaker said.
The source disclosed that consultations were also ongoing to fill other vacant leadership positions within the minority caucus, including the offices of Deputy Minority Leader and Minority Whip.
According to the lawmaker, one of the positions has already been allocated to a member from the North-West, while discussions are continuing on the remaining slots before the final list is transmitted to the Speaker.
Supporters of Ugochinyere’s nomination argued that his selection was based on merit, legislative performance and experience within the National Assembly.
They pointed to his record in the House, noting that he has sponsored and moved more than 40 bills, motions and petitions within three years of his current term. They also cited his previous service as Senior Adviser to the Senate President as evidence of his familiarity with legislative processes and parliamentary leadership.
The lawmakers further dismissed suggestions that years spent in parliament should be the overriding consideration in choosing a Minority Leader.
Drawing from previous experiences in Nigeria’s legislature, they noted that several lawmakers had risen to key leadership positions despite having comparatively fewer years in office.
They argued that parliamentary leadership is ultimately determined by the decision of the majority within a caucus and not by sentiment, regional considerations or external influence.
The endorsement comes at a time of shifting political alignments within the National Assembly, following a series of defections and realignments that have altered the balance of forces within both the ruling and opposition camps.
Should the Speaker formally announce the nomination, Ugochinyere would assume leadership of an opposition caucus seeking to redefine its role in the House amid evolving political dynamics and growing calls for stronger legislative engagement.
For now, attention remains on the Speaker’s office as lawmakers await the formal recognition of a decision that supporters say reflects the democratic choice of the majority of opposition members in the House.