HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BARS FIRST-TERM LAWMAKERS FROM PRINCIPAL OFFICES, SHUTS OUT UGOCHINYERE AS MINORITY LEADER. (PHOTO).

 The House of Representatives has barred first-term lawmakers from occupying principal positions, effectively ending the bid of Hon. Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere to emerge as Minority Leader.

The resolution was passed during plenary on Wednesday following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Babajimi Benson, who represents the Ikorodu Federal Constituency of Lagos State.

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

Hon. Ugochinyere, who represents the Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency in Imo State, had been nominated last week by some opposition lawmakers to succeed Hon. Kingsley Chinda as Minority Leader. Chinda vacated the position after emerging as the APC governorship candidate for Rivers State.

However, the move faced strong opposition at plenary last Thursday when Hon. Philip Agbese, Deputy Spokesperson of the House and a Labour Party member, denied endorsing Ugochinyere. Agbese claimed his signature was forged on the nomination document.

Ugochinyere, an Action Peoples Party (APP) lawmaker, dismissed Agbese’s allegation as an “outrageous lie” and subsequently released a video to prove that Agbese had indeed signed the document supporting his nomination.

The new resolution now makes it impossible for the first-term lawmaker to assume the position, as only returning lawmakers with prior experience are eligible for such principal offices.