Minority Leader: Reps in heated session as Agbese accuses signature forgery

The House of Representatives erupted into a heated session on Thursday after Deputy Spokesperson Philip Agbese revealed that his signature had been forged on a circulated list of opposition members who endorsed Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere as Minority Leader.

Reports indicated that 61 members of the Minority Caucus had appended their signatures to nominate Ugochinyere, a member of the Action People’s Party (APP), for the position of Minority Leader. Agbese’s name and signature appeared on the list.

An online newspaper, Aljazirah, published an exclusive report alleging that each of the 61 members collected the sum of $50,000 before signing the document.

Under a motion of personal privilege on the floor of the House, Agbese denied ever endorsing Ugochinyere, stating that the newspaper’s publication of his signature infringed his privilege as a member of the Minority Caucus.

“Yesterday I saw a document on the internet with my name reportedly nominating a member of this House for the post of minority leader,” he said.

“I had conversed, deliberated and visited many members of this House. One of the persons I had such discussions with was my colleague, Honourable Ikenga Ugochinyere. Our discussion was basically centred on the welfare of members of the minority.”

“Number two was on the issue of the executive not adhering to issues concerning our constituency projects,” he added.

“The person who signed this document, Honourable Seyi, I have not seen him since December 2025, so I am at a loss and I feel that my legislative privilege has been breached because this amounts to forgery for my signature to be used for purposes which were not intended,” he said.

“I saw on a social media blog that members have received a certain amount of money. I have not received any amount of money from anybody,” he said.

“My constituents have been calling me to know. This is not the first time my name is being mentioned in an issue like this. I don’t want to be involved and I don’t want my name to be further maligned as far as this is concerned because I have a right as a member of this House for my privileges to be fully protected,” he added.

Speaking further, Agbese said, “This is my integrity I am talking about, I never signed any document and I never received any amount of money and I will never do.”

“I will tender the list to the House as well as the link to the online report for this House to investigate the matter,” he said.

In his ruling, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen noted the motion and said the House would take action in due course.

Shortly after the ruling, Ugochinyere, in a Motion of Personal Explanation, responded to the allegations raised by Agbese on live broadcast.

He explained to the House that Agbese was absent at the meeting where he was selected as Minority Leader by an overwhelming majority of the caucus.

According to him, Agbese followed him to his office to append his signature on the document where other members had voted for his emergence.

Ugochinyere promised to provide evidence and witnesses to confirm his position, saying that there was no case of forgery of any sort.

However, Agbese interrupted Ugochinyere, insisting that he never signed any document, and members standing across their seats engaged in a loud shouting match.

After several minutes of attempts to calm the House, the Speaker said a Minority Caucus meeting had already been fixed for 2 p.m. and that all disagreements would be discussed there.

With many members still raising their hands to speak, Solomon Bob (APC‑Rivers) said that according to House Rule 7 (15), only experienced members can be principal officers.

He said that Ugochinyere had barely spent three years in the House while opposition members have over ten years of experience.

He insisted that Ugochinyere should not be allowed to emerge.

Dagomie Abiante (APC‑Rivers) said that the position advanced by Ugochinyere should not be allowed into the records of the House and should be ignored and deleted.

Tajudeen insisted that all contributions on the matter would be taken at the Minority Caucus meeting and proceeded with the agenda for the day.