Reps make last-minute rule, block Ugochinyere, others from House minority leadership position

The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, hurriedly amended its Standing Orders during plenary amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the emergence of a new Minority Leader for the House.

The development followed the moves by 60 minority lawmakers to fill the vacancy created by the exit of former Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, with Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere.

Available records showed that 60 of the 82 members of the Minority Caucus endorsed the nomination of Ugochinyere for the position, demonstrating significant support within the Minority caucus.

However, during Wednesday’s plenary session, the House hurriedly adopted amendments to its Standing Orders following a motion sponsored by Hon. Babajimi Benson.

Presenting the motion, Hon. Benson stated that Order Seven, Rule 15 of the Standing Orders of the House provides that only members with “cognate legislative experience” are eligible for appointment as Principal Officers of the House.

He argued that parliamentary best practices globally reserve such positions for experienced legislators in order to preserve institutional memory, strengthen legislative competence, and enhance understanding of constitutional and intergovernmental processes.

The amendment specifically defines “cognate legislative experience” as requiring a member to have completed at least one full four-year term in the House of Representatives. It further states unequivocally that no other interpretation of the term shall apply.

Mrt Ugochinyere, alongside other first-timers in the House affcted by the new amendment, were elected into the House in 2023 and have only spent three years so far, with one more year left to complete a full legislative session or term.

The amendment effectively excludes first-term lawmakers from appointment as Principal Officers of the House, a move that has generated fresh debate within the Minority Caucus and across the National Assembly.

Stakeholders have expressed differing views on the implications of the amendment for internal democracy, party representation, and legislative independence.

Meanwhile, efforts to resolve the leadership dispute have reportedly produced a proposed peace arrangement under which Ugochinyere and the G-60 bloc would play a decisive role in nominating a consensus candidate for the Minority Leader position, as well as other minority principal offices.