ABUJA, NIGERIA — The House of Representatives devolved into a rowdy and highly chaotic session during Thursday’s plenary after Honorable Philip Agbese, representing the Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, openly rejected an endorsement list paving the way for Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere to become the Minority Leader, claiming his signature was forged [4 Jun 2026].
The explosive denial instantly fractured the green chamber, triggering loud shouting matches between opposing legislative factions, with security personnel on high alert to prevent physical altercations on the floor.
The Floor Confrontation: A Forgery Claim Triggers Rowdiness
The uproar began when the endorsement document supporting Ugochinyere’s bid for the powerful principal office was brought forward. Agbese rose on a point of order to vehemently distance himself from the movement, declaring point-blank that he never signed any document backing the Imo State lawmaker.
“My signature was forged,” Agbese shouted over the noise of the chamber, demanding an immediate forensic investigation by the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges into the authenticity of the endorsement roster.
The accusation threw the session into complete disarray, with the Speaker struggling to maintain decorum as pro-Ugochinyere lawmakers stood up to fiercely challenge Agbese’s integrity, shouting down his presentation.
Counter-Claims: “Agbese Is a Paid Rabble-Rouser”
As the shouting match intensified, staunch defenders of Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere launched a blistering counter-attack against Agbese, dismissing his forgery claims as a desperate, manufactured smear campaign.
Insiders and lawmakers close to the Ugochinyere camp have completely rejected the idea that any signature was altered within the National Assembly complex, labeling the Benue lawmaker a dishonest actor driven by personal grievances.
- The Patronage Dispute: Sources within the chamber assert that “Agbese is a liar” and “a paid rabble rouser” who has had an axe to grind with Ikenga Imo since Ikenga Imo stopped to patronize him.
- Credibility Quashed: Insiders maintaining this position stated flatly that he is not a person to be listened to or be taken seriously, insisting that the signature can never be forged by anyone inside the National Assembly.
- The Authentic List Defense: Supporters maintain that the endorsement signature is entirely valid, arguing that Agbese willingly appended his name to the document but made a sudden U-turn after receiving financial or political inducements from external establishment actors desperate to stop Ugochinyere from emerging as Minority Leader.
The Battle for the Minority Leadership
This raw display of legislative hostility underscores the high stakes surrounding the selection of the lower chamber’s opposition leadership. The position of Minority Leader is critical for shaping legislative oversight and organizing resistance against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) agenda.
With the APC already dealing with its own internal fractures—following the recent high-profile defection of three House members to the PRP and ADC—the ruling party has a vested interest in ensuring a compliant opposition leader emerges. Critics argue that the sudden controversy surrounding the endorsement list is a coordinated attempt to stall Ugochinyere’s momentum.
The Speaker was eventually forced to cut the debate short as the session remained too rowdy for normal legislative business, leaving the true ownership of the disputed signature to be determined by an emergency executive session.
