By Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka
Abuja
A new development has emerged from the House of Representatives as 61 out of 81 minority lawmakers have selected Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere as the Minority Leader designate. The lawmakers have submitted the signed nomination to the Speaker ahead of the expected official announcement.
The vacancy followed the decampment of former Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, to the ruling APC. Chinda has since emerged as the APC Rivers governorship candidate. The Speaker announced the vacancy, triggering consultations among opposition parties in the House.
From documents sighted by our reporter, the endorsement cuts across the entire minority bloc. Lawmakers from NDC, ADC, APGA, PRP, LP, APP, APM, SDP and ACCORD, drawn from different tribes, religions and zones, voluntarily settled for Ikenga. The submission aligns with Order 7, Rule 7 of the House Rule Book, which provides that members shall elect among themselves the Minority Leader to lead them.
Opposition lawmakers who spoke anonymously expressed confidence that the Speaker, as an unbiased leader, will swiftly announce the decision. They said the minority needs its leadership in place within the next few days so the parliament can be fully constituted with full minority representation.
The lawmakers also said nominees for Minority Whip and Deputy Minority Leader have been settled. One of the positions has already been taken by an NDC member from the North West. After ongoing harmonisation, the remaining list will be sent to the Speaker within the next few days for announcement.
They justified their choice of Ikenga based on his legislative record. In three years of his four-year term, he has sponsored and moved over 40 bills, motions and petitions. He also served four years as Senior Adviser to the Senate President, which they said establishes him as a qualified candidate for the role.
The lawmakers stressed that the power to choose rests with the majority of minority members, and that decision has now been exercised. They cited precedents such as Sen. Akpabio elected Senate Minority Leader after three weeks, and the elections of Tambuwal, Ihedioha, Saraki, Ekweremadu and Dogara against party zoning, to argue that parliament is rooted in majority decision, not sentiment.
The 61 signed members include Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, APP, Imo; Hon. Aliyu Mustapha Abdullahi, ADC, Kaduna; and Hon. Aniekwe Peter Udogalanya, NDC, Anambra and; Hon. Shehu Dalhatu, PDP, Katsina.
Others are Hon. Aliyu Bappa Misau, APM, Bauchi; Hon. Philip Agbese, LP, Benue; Hon. Gwacham Maureen Chinwe, APGA, Anambra; Hon. Obinna Aguocha, LP, Abia; and 53 others across NDC, ADC, APM, ACCORD, SDP and PDP from states including Lagos, Oyo, Sokoto, Kano, Bauchi, Kaduna and FCT.
