A heated session unfolded in the House of Representatives on Thursday as Hon. Philip Agbese, representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo federal constituency, denied endorsing Imo Ugochinyere for minority leader, alleging forgery of his signature on a circulated nomination list. Agbese, also Deputy Spokesperson of the House, raised a point of order under privilege, stating his name and signature appeared on an online document listing 61 minority members who supposedly nominated Ugochinyere, a member of the Action People's Party (APP). He declared he never signed any such document and did not receive money, as alleged in an Aljazirah report claiming each signatory was paid $50,000.
Agbese told the plenary he had discussed constituency project issues and minority welfare with Ugochinyere but never agreed to support his leadership bid. He said he last saw the member linked to circulating the document, Hon. Seyi, in December 2025 and accused unknown persons of breaching his legislative privilege. "This amounts to forgery for my signature to be used for purposes which were not intended," he stated, adding that his constituents had contacted him over the controversy. He pledged to submit the document and online report to the House for investigation.
In response, Ugochinyere moved for personal explanation, asserting Agbese was absent from the caucus meeting where he was selected by majority vote but later visited his office to sign the document. Ugochinyere claimed there was no forgery and promised to present evidence and witnesses. Agbese interrupted, reiterating he never signed anything, leading to a shouting match among members. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas Tajudeen acknowledged the motion and said the House would act in due course. He scheduled a minority caucus meeting for 2 p.m. to resolve the dispute.
Philip Agbese claims his signature was forged on a minority leadership nomination, yet Imo Ugochinyere says he personally signed the document after visiting his office. One of them has directly contradicted the other under parliamentary proceedings, leaving members of the minority caucus to reconcile conflicting accounts. The scheduled caucus meeting must now determine whose version of events holds weight among the group. This dispute risks eroding internal cohesion at a critical moment for opposition unity.
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