Minority Leader Battle: ‘The video is me, but I was not signing for Ugochinyere’ — Agbese counters G60

The controversy surrounding the battle for the Minority Leadership position in the House of Representatives took a fresh turn on Thursday as Deputy House Spokesman, Hon. Philip Agbese, reacted to a viral video released by members of the G60 caucus, insisting that the document he signed was unrelated to the endorsement of Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere.

The video, which has been circulating on social media, allegedly shows Agbese appending his signature to a document, a development that supporters of Ugochinyere have cited as evidence that the Benue lawmaker endorsed the opposition lawmaker’s bid for the Minority Leader position.

However, Agbese dismissed the claim, maintaining that although he appeared in the video, the document he signed was not connected to Ugochinyere’s leadership ambition.

Responding to enquiries on the matter, Agbese said: “No, bro. The video is me. The document I signed is for the welfare of members and agitation for the delivery of constituency projects, not to elevate him to the Minority Leadership position.”

His reaction comes barely hours after the G60 caucus released the footage in response to Agbese’s allegation that his signature was forged on a document purportedly endorsing Ugochinyere for the Minority Leader position.

The development has added a new dimension to the leadership tussle within the opposition caucus in the House, with both camps sticking to their positions over the authenticity and purpose of the controversial document.

While Ugochinyere and his supporters insist the signatures were voluntarily appended by lawmakers backing his aspiration, Agbese has maintained that any signature attributed to endorsing the Imo lawmaker for the Minority Leader position did not emanate from him.

The dispute has continued to generate intense debate within political circles, with calls for the original document to be subjected to scrutiny to determine its purpose and authenticity.

The Minority Leader contest has emerged as one of the most contentious issues within the opposition bloc in the House of Representatives, drawing reactions from lawmakers and political observers across the country.