Agbese Denies Backing Ugochinyere For Reps Minority Leader, Accuses Him Of Forging His Signature

A heated argument broke out in the House of Representatives on Thursday after Philip Agbese, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, denied supporting Ikenga Ugochinyere for the position of Minority Leader.

During plenary, Agbese raised a matter of privilege, claiming that his signature had been forged on a document that listed him as one of the lawmakers backing Ugochinyere’s bid for the role.

The Minority Leader position became vacant after Kingsley Chinda, representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, stepped down following his emergence as the APC governorship candidate in Rivers State.

Addressing the House, Agbese said he recently saw a document online carrying his name as a supporter of Ugochinyere’s nomination.

He explained that while he had previously met and discussed issues affecting opposition lawmakers with Ugochinyere, those discussions never involved endorsing him for Minority Leader.

“My attention was drawn to a document on the internet with my name, reportedly nominating a member of this house for the post of minority leader,” Agbese said.

“Mr speaker, I will recall that before this time, in line with our fraternal relationship in this house, I conversed, deliberated, and visited many members of this house. One of the persons I had such discussions with was my colleague, honourable Ikenga Ugochinyere.

“Our discussion was basically centred on the welfare of members of the minority and the issue of the executive not adhering to certain issues on our constituency projects.

“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 that were not intended.”

The Labour Party lawmaker asked the House to investigate the matter and stop any further use of his signature.

He also accused Ugochinyere and those working with him of damaging his reputation.

“Mr speaker, I also want to pray this honourable house to stop honourable Ikenga and members of his team or his agents or anybody acting on his behalf, from further maligning my name,” he said.

Agbese further alleged that reports on social media claimed some lawmakers received $50,000 in exchange for supporting Ugochinyere’s ambition.

In response, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas said the House would look into the issue at the appropriate time and advised members not to continue debating the matter publicly.

Abbas added that he planned to meet with opposition lawmakers later in the day to discuss the situation.

“I don’t want us to debate this matter on the floor further. It is something within the family to discuss and make a decision appropriately,” he said.

However, Billy Osawaru, who represents Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency, was not satisfied with the Speaker’s position.

He argued that the allegation involved a serious criminal offence and should be referred to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

“The matter is a criminal and very sensitive issue,” he said.

Despite repeated appeals from the Speaker for calm, some lawmakers openly disagreed, creating tension in the chamber.

Ugochinyere later responded to the allegations, denying any wrongdoing.

He described Agbese’s claims as false and insisted that Agbese attended the meeting where lawmakers endorsed him and personally signed the nomination document.

‘Honourable Agbese attended the meeting and independently appended his signature to my nomination for the office of minority leader,” he said.

He also accused Agbese of trying to tarnish his image, saying he could provide witnesses who saw Agbese sign the document.

Agbese immediately rejected that account, maintaining that he neither attended the meeting nor signed any nomination form.

His denial triggered another round of disorder in the chamber, and it took Speaker Abbas more than fifteen minutes to restore calm.

After order was restored, Awaji-Inombek Abiante, a lawmaker from Rivers State, urged the House not to treat the debate as official business.

He argued that discussions about who would become Minority Leader remained unofficial until the opposition caucus formally presented a candidate.

“I want it placed on record that all comments regarding the election of a minority leader should be expunged from the records of the house because the matter is not before us,” Abiante said.

“The minority caucus will formally present its leader to the House at the appropriate time. Until then, whatever has been said remains a personal opinion.”

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