A total of 61 out of the 81 opposition members of the House of Representatives have nominated Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere as the Minority Leader designate, following the vacancy created by the defection of former Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawmakers, drawn from various opposition parties, including the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Labour Party (LP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Accord Party, are awaiting the formal announcement of their decision by the Speaker of the House.
Reports have indicated that the lawmakers had submitted Ugochinyere’s nomination to the Speaker in accordance with Order 7, Rule 7 of the House of Representatives Standing Orders, which provides that members of the minority caucus shall elect among themselves a Minority Leader.
Sources among the lawmakers said the decision cut across party, ethnic, religious and geopolitical lines, with members voluntarily settling for the Imo lawmaker as their preferred candidate.
According to the lawmakers, the Speaker, as the presiding officer of the House, is expected to formally announce the decision to enable the minority caucus fill the vacant position and fully constitute its leadership.
They disclosed that consultations were also ongoing regarding the positions of Deputy Minority Leader and Minority Whip, adding that one of the positions had already been allotted to a member of the NDC from the North-West.
The lawmakers said they settled for Ugochinyere because of what they described as his legislative experience and performance, noting that he had sponsored and moved over 40 bills, motions and petitions in nearly three years in the House, in addition to serving for four years as Senior Adviser to a former Senate President.
They maintained that the choice of minority leadership rests with the majority of opposition lawmakers and argued that the decision had already been made through the support of 61 members.
The lawmakers further pointed to past precedents in the National Assembly, insisting that parliamentary leadership positions have historically been determined by majority decisions rather than sentiments.
They also expressed readiness to work with members of the ruling party in advancing legislative business and delivering on the expectations of Nigerians.
Among those listed as signatories to Ugochinyere’s nomination are lawmakers from the APP, ADC, NDC, PDP, APM, LP, APGA, SDP and Accord Party, bringing the total number of supporters to 61.