The House of Representatives on Wednesday amended its Standing Orders, effectively shutting out Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere from the race for Minority Leader by restricting eligibility for principal offices to lawmakers with previous legislative experience in the Green Chamber.
The amendment comes amid an intense battle within the Minority Caucus over who succeeds former Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda.
Before the amendment, a bloc of 60 minority lawmakers had thrown their weight behind Ugochinyere’s emergence as Minority Leader.
The group, known as the G-60, reportedly secured the backing of 60 out of the 82 members of the Minority Caucus for his nomination.
However, during plenary on Wednesday, lawmakers adopted amendments to the House Standing Orders following a motion moved by Babajimi Benson.
Benson argued that principal leadership positions should be reserved for lawmakers with sufficient legislative experience, in line with parliamentary best practices aimed at preserving institutional memory and strengthening legislative capacity.
The amendment provides a clear definition of “cognate legislative experience,” stating that only members who have completed at least one full four-year term in the House of Representatives are eligible for appointment as Principal Officers. It also stipulates that no other interpretation of the requirement shall apply.
The new provision effectively disqualifies first-term lawmakers from occupying positions such as Minority Leader, Deputy Minority Leader, Minority Whip and Deputy Minority Whip.
Political observers and lawmakers have linked the timing of the amendment to the ongoing minority leadership contest, with many viewing it as a major setback to Ugochinyere’s ambition.
Despite the development, efforts are said to be underway to broker peace within the caucus. Sources indicated that a proposed arrangement would allow Ugochinyere and the G-60 bloc to play a key role in nominating a consensus candidate for the Minority Leader position and other minority principal offices.
Ugochinyere who is yet to serve out his first term is expected to state his position on the matter when he addresses the media on Thursday.
