A majority of opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives have thrown their weight behind Ikenga Ugochinyere for the position of Minority Leader, setting the stage for a potential leadership contest within the opposition bloc.
The lawmakers, numbering 61 out of the 81 opposition members in the Green Chamber, formally nominated Ugochinyere following reports that the current Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The endorsement, which was submitted to Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, was backed by members drawn from several opposition parties, including the National Democratic Coalition (NDC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Labour Party (LP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Accord Party.
According to the lawmakers, Ugochinyere enjoys broad support across the opposition ranks and is best positioned to lead the minority caucus in the House.
However, the nomination has reportedly generated opposition from another group of lawmakers said to be supporting Frederick Agbedi for the position.
Those opposed to Ugochinyere’s emergence argue that the office of Minority Leader, previously occupied by Chinda from the South-South geopolitical zone, should remain within the region.
They have also raised concerns over the possibility of the position going to a member of the Action Peoples Party (APP), which currently has only two representatives in the House.
The development has heightened political calculations within the opposition camp, with attention now turning to Speaker Abbas and the House leadership, who are expected to determine whether the nomination submitted by the majority of opposition lawmakers will be formally recognised.
The outcome of the decision could shape the direction of opposition politics in the House and influence the balance of power within the National Assembly in the months ahead.
