Fresh controversy has erupted in the House of Representatives after CCTV footage reportedly surfaced showing Hon. Philip Agbese endorsing Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere’s bid for the position of Minority Leader, despite publicly denying involvement during plenary on Thursday.
The footage, obtained by POLITICS NIGERIA, allegedly captured Agbese — who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State — visiting Ugochinyere’s office on May 21, 2026, at about 5pm to append his signature to the endorsement document.
According to the report, the video showed Agbese signing the register in the presence of Hon. Midala Usman, representing Askira-Uba/Hawul Federal Constituency of Borno State.
The development comes hours after a heated and rowdy session at the Green Chamber, where Agbese raised a motion of personal explanation, alleging that his signature had been forged on a list endorsing Ugochinyere as the new Minority Leader.
Speaking during plenary, Agbese insisted he never endorsed the Imo lawmaker and described the circulating list as false.
“This is my integrity I am talking about. I never signed any document and I never received any amount of money, and I will never do,” Agbese told lawmakers.
He further stated that he intended to submit the alleged forged list and online reports to the House for investigation.
The leadership tussle followed the resignation of Hon. Kingsley Chinda as Minority Leader after emerging as the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate for Rivers State.
Responding to Agbese’s claims, Ugochinyere told the House that the Benue lawmaker was absent during the minority caucus meeting where 61 lawmakers reportedly endorsed him for the leadership position.
However, Ugochinyere maintained that Agbese later visited his office personally to append his signature to the endorsement document.
Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, subsequently urged all aggrieved parties to channel their grievances through the minority caucus meeting convened to address the matter.
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