Endorsement dispute: House Minority Caucus shows video disproving forgery claim

A group of minority lawmakers in Nigeria's House of Representatives has presented video evidence to counter allegations of forged signatures in the nomination of Ikenga Ugochinyere for minority leader. The lawmakers, operating as the G-60 Minority Caucus, assert that the signatures on the endorsement document are authentic and were freely given.

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We wish to categorically state that there was no forgery or fake signature in the nomination of Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere for the position of Minority Leader.

The controversy arose after Deputy House Spokesperson Philip Agbese claimed his signature was forged on a document supporting Ugochinyere. However, the G-60 caucus has dismissed this as false and misleading. They stated that 61 of the 81 members of the Minority Caucus voluntarily signed the nomination document, emphasizing that no forgery occurred.

The caucus further explained that the endorsement was intended to fill the leadership vacancy created by the defection of the former Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Chinda recently emerged as the APC's governorship candidate in Rivers State.

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To establish the facts and dispel any misinformation, video evidence exists showing Honourable Agbese personally signing the nomination document and it will be sent out with this statement in the interest of transparency and accountability.

To substantiate their claims and dispel misinformation, the caucus has released video evidence showing Agbese personally signing the nomination document. They urged the public and media to rely on this verifiable evidence rather than the forgery allegations. The dispute briefly led to heated exchanges during a plenary session.

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I had conversed, deliberated and visited many members of this House. One of the people I had such discussions with was my colleague, Honourable Ikenga Ugochinyere. Our discussion