The House of Representatives has selected Mr. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere as the Minority Leader Designate following the decampment of the former occupant, Mr. Kingsley Chinda, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party, where he emerged as the party’s Rivers governorship candidate.
Mr. Ugochinyere was chosen by 61 out of the 81 federal opposition lawmakers in the House of Reps.
The selection however, awaits the Speaker’s announcement of the opposition’s decision
Some of the opposition lawmakers excited about Ikenga’s nomination; expressed readiness to work with the ruling party members to deliver on legislative expectations.
Majority of the lawmakers cut across from different political parties, submitted the signed nomination of Ikenga to the Speaker ahead of the expected announcement.
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The lawmakers expressed confidence that the Speaker of the parliament, as an unbiased leader, will swiftly make the announcement so that the minority can have its leadership in the next few days, and the parliament can be fully constituted with the minority fully represented.
The lawmakers said they have also settled for nominees to fill the vacant positions of Minority Whip and Deputy Minority Leader, with one of the positions already taken by a member from the North West.
After ongoing harmonisation, the remaining list will be sent to the Speaker within the next few days for announcement.
The lawmakers said they settled for Ikenga because of his excellent legislative record, during which he sponsored and moved over 40 bills, motions and petitions, all of which have established him as a qualified candidate for the job.
The lawmakers said their choice of Ikenga, with three years of legislative experience for a four-year job, is more than enough.
