Sixty-one members of the House of Representatives have nominated Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, better known as Ikenga Ugochinyere, as minority leader of the lower legislative chamber.
Ugochinyere, who represents Ideato north/Ideato south federal constituency in Imo state, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Action People’s Party (APP) in January.
Ugochinyere is set to succeed Kingsley Chinda, the lawmaker representing Obio/Akpor federal constituency in Rivers state, who vacated the minority leader position after emerging as the APC governorship candidate for Rivers state.
In a letter dated June 3, and addressed to Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house, the lawmakers, comprising members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Labour Party (LP), APP, Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Accord, said the nomination reflected the preference of the majority of opposition members in the green chamber.
The lawmakers are Ugochinyere (APP, Imo), Aliyu Abdullahi (ADC, Kaduna), Aniekwe Udogalanya (NDC, Anambra), Shehu Dalhatu (PDP, Katsina), Aliyu Misau (APM, Bauchi), Matthew Nwogu (APP, Imo), Ojo Makanjuola (APM, Oyo), Anthony Adepoju (APM, Oyo), Isah Ambarura (ADC, Sokoto), Sani Noma (ADC, Kebbi), Umar Zakari (NDC, Kano), Adamu Wakili (NDC, Kano), Datti Umar (NDC, Kano), Abdulhakeem Ado (NDC, Kano), Philip Agbese (LP, Benue), Dahiru Sarki (SDP, Nasarawa), Thaddeus Attah (NDC, Lagos), Gwacham Chinwe (APGA, Anambra), Obinna Aguocha (LP, Abia), and Nnabuife Clara (APGA, Anambra).
Others are Peter Uzokwe (NDC, Anambra), Emeka Obiajulu (NDC, Anambra), Oyedeji Oyeshina (APM, Oyo), Joshua Obika (NDC, FCT), Okonkwo Harris (NDC, Anambra), Oluwande George (NDC, Lagos), Jesse Onuakalusi (NDC, Lagos), Oladebo Omoleye (ACCORD, Osun), Mudashiru Alani (ACCORD, Osun), Mani Katami (ADC, Sokoto), Usman Basiru (ADC, Sokoto), Ibe Osonwa (LP, Abia), Alexanda Ikwechegh (LP, Abia), Omoruyi Osaro (NDC, Edo), Aliyu Garu (APM, Bauchi), Auwalu Gwalabe (APM, Bauchi), Hashimu Adamu (APM, Bauchi), Akanni Ademola (ACCORD, Osun), Adewale Adebayo (ACCORD, Osun), and Adetunji Olusoji (ACCORD, Osun).
Also on the list are Okafor Ifeanyi (APGA, Anambra), Onwusibe Obinna (LP, Abia), Zubairu Usman (ADC, Kaduna), Abdulmaleek Danga (PDP, Kogi), Oluwaseyi Sowumi (NDC, Lagos), Madawaki Dahiru (PDP, Jigawa), Sani Tanko (APM, Bauchi), Umar Yabo (ADC, Sokoto), Bello el-Rufai (ADC, Kaduna), Ajilo Shehu (ADC, Kaduna), Yahaya Richifa (ADC, Kaduna), Gana Audu (PDP, Niger), Abel Fuoh (PDP, Taraba), Sani Lawal (ADC, Katsina), Fola Oyekunle (APM, Oyo), Amobi Ogah (LP, Abia), Adamu Yakubu (PDP, Jigawa), Abdullahi El-Rasheed (ADC, Gombe), Esosa Iyame (NDC, Edo), Bala Rabiu (PDP, Bauchi), and Abubakar Zango (ADC, Adamawa).
The endorsement paves the way for Abbas to formally announce Ugochinyere as the new minority leader of the house of representatives.
