A majority of opposition members in the House of Representatives have endorsed Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere as Minority Leader designate, with 61 out of 81 lawmakers across minority parties submitting his nomination to the Speaker.
The development follows the vacancy created by the defection of former Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), where he has since emerged as the party’s governorship candidate in Rivers State.
Documents obtained in Abuja show that lawmakers from multiple opposition parties—including the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Labour Party (LP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), People Redemption Party (PRP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Accord Party—united in support of Ugochinyere.
The nomination, formally submitted to the Speaker on Wednesday, is in line with parliamentary procedures outlined in Order 7, Rule 7 of the House Standing Orders, which empowers minority members to elect their leader.
Sources within the minority caucus expressed confidence that the Speaker will announce the decision in the coming days, enabling the House to fully constitute its leadership structure.
Lawmakers said the overwhelming support for Ugochinyere cuts across regional, religious, and political lines, reflecting what they described as a consensus choice within the minority bloc.
They also disclosed that consultations are ongoing to fill other vacant positions, including Deputy Minority Leader and Minority Whip, with a harmonised list expected to be forwarded to the Speaker shortly.
Explaining their decision, the lawmakers cited Ugochinyere’s legislative record, noting that he has sponsored over 40 bills, motions, and petitions within three years in office, in addition to his prior experience as a Senior Adviser to the Senate President.
“The power to choose rests with the majority of minority members, and that decision has been made,” one lawmaker said, insisting that internal democracy within the opposition ranks guided the outcome.
They further argued that parliamentary leadership positions have historically been determined by majority consensus rather than zoning arrangements or sentiment, citing past examples in both the Senate and House of Representatives.
The lawmakers maintained that Ugochinyere’s experience and performance make him well-suited to lead the opposition in the House at a critical time in Nigeria’s political landscape.
