The G-60 minority caucus in the House of Representatives has dismissed allegations that signatures on the nomination document endorsing Ikenga Ugochinyere for the position of Minority Leader were forged, insisting that all lawmakers who supported the move signed voluntarily.
The caucus also released video evidence, showing a man said to be the House Deputy spokesperson, Philip Agbese, personally signing the nomination document in what appeared to be a contradiction of Agbese’s allegation on the floor of the House on Thursday that his signature had been forged.
In a statement issued on behalf of the group by Mukhtar Umar and Seyi Sowunmi, the lawmakers described Agbese’s claim as “false and misleading” and accused him of attempting to discredit a democratic process.
“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.
“To establish the facts and dispel any misinformation, video evidence exists showing Hon. Agbese personally signing the nomination document, and it will be sent out with this statement in the interest of transparency and accountability,” the group said.
The caucus maintained that there was no forgery or fake signature in the nomination of the Imo lawmaker, stressing that 61 of the 81 lawmakers that make up the Minority Caucus willingly endorsed his candidacy.
According to the lawmakers, the nomination was initiated to fill the vacancy created by the departure of former Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, following his defection to the All Progressives Congress and emergence as the party’s governorship candidate in Rivers State.
“Out of the 81 members that constitute the Minority Caucus, 61 lawmakers willingly signed in support of Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere’s nomination,” the statement added.
The controversy erupted after Agbese challenged the authenticity of the endorsement list during plenary, alleging that his signature had been fraudulently appended to the document submitted in support of Ugochinyere’s emergence as Minority Leader.
However, the G-60 lawmakers insisted that the process was transparent and enjoyed majority backing within the opposition caucus.
“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 statement added.
The development is the latest twist in the ongoing leadership contest within the minority bloc of the House, where competing interests have intensified debates over who should occupy key opposition positions following recent political realignments and defections.
With the release of the alleged video evidence, the dispute over the authenticity of the nomination signatures is expected to generate fresh scrutiny and could further deepen divisions within the minority caucus.
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