House Stops Ugochinyere’s Minority Leader Campaign and Prohibits First‑Term Lawmakers from Using Principal Offices

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The aspiration of the member representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency in Imo State to lead the minority caucus of the House of Representatives was halted on Wednesday when the chamber barred first‑term lawmakers from holding principal offices.

Last week, some opposition lawmakers nominated Ugochiyere for the minority leader’s position to succeed Kingsley Chinda, the lawmaker for Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, who vacated the role after becoming the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate for Rivers State.

During the plenary on Thursday, Deputy Spokesperson of the House and Labour Party member Hon. Philip Agbese denied endorsing the Action Peoples Party lawmaker for the minority caucus. He alleged that his signature had been forged on the nomination document.

Ugochiyere dismissed the claim as an “outrageous lie” and released a video to support his assertion that Agbese had signed the endorsement.

Nevertheless, on Wednesday the House passed a resolution barring first‑time lawmakers from holding principal offices. The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Hon. Babajimi Benson.

The resolution clarified Order 7, Rule 15 of the Standing Orders, which states: “Only members with cognate legislative experience as members of the House of Representatives shall be eligible for appointment as principal officers of the house.”

Benson argued that global parliamentary best practices exclude first‑term parliamentarians from principal offices, reserving them for experienced legislators to promote institutional memory, deepen understanding of legislative processes, and enhance competence in constitutional interpretation and intergovernmental relations.

He cited the Senate’s recent amendment restricting leadership positions to senators who have served at least two terms. Benson explained that the 10th Senate has defined “cognate legislative experience” as “senators who have completed at least one full four‑year term,” adding that those with multiple previous terms must have served in the immediate past assembly.

He said there is a need to prioritise institutional memory, deepen parliamentary stability and continuity, build legislative experience, minimise avoidable turbulence, and promote mature representation in the committee of international parliamentary associations.

The House unanimously adopted the motion when Speaker Hon. Tajudeen Abbas put it to a voice vote.