Ugochinyere Releases Video Of Agbese Signing Nomination Letter For Reps Mnority Leader

A member of the House of Representatives, Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, has released a video to prove that Philip Agbese, the deputy spokesperson of the green chamber, endorsed his bid for the position of minority leader.

The CCTV footage, shared  on Thursday night, allegedly shows Agbese, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency in Benue State, meeting with Ugochinyere in his office and signing a nomination document.

The development follows the nomination of Ugochinyere by a group of opposition lawmakers on Wednesday to replace Kingsley Chinda as minority leader.

Chinda, who represents Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, resigned from the position after emerging as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State.

However, during Thursday’s plenary session, Agbese denied supporting Ugochinyere’s nomination.

The Labour Party lawmaker claimed that his signature on the nomination document was forged.

Ugochinyere, a lawmaker elected on the platform of the Action People’s Party (APP), rejected the allegation, describing it as false.

In a statement released after the plenary, Mukhtar Umar of Kano and Oluwaseyi Sowumi of Lagos, both members of the opposition caucus, insisted that all signatures on the nomination document were genuine and voluntarily provided.

“The G-60 Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives wishes to categorically state that there was no forgery or fake signature in the nomination of Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere of the Action People’s Party (APP) for the position of Minority Leader,” the statement reads.

“Contrary to claims made by the Deputy Spokesperson of the House, Hon. Philip Agbese, at the plenary today, all signatures appended to the nomination document were voluntarily provided by the lawmakers concerned.

“Out of the 81 members that constitute the Minority Caucus, 61 lawmakers willingly signed in support of Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere’s nomination to fill the vacancy created by the exit of Hon. Kingsley Chinda following his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his subsequent emergence as the party’s governorship candidate in Rivers State.

“We note with concern the allegation by Hon. Philip Agbese that his signature was forged on the endorsement list. This claim is false and misleading.

“We remain committed to due process, unity, and the collective interest of opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives. Attempts to discredit a transparent and democratic process through unfounded allegations should be discouraged.”

The lawmakers also urged Nigerians to “disregard claims of forgery and rely on verifiable facts regarding the nomination process”..

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