“Completed Four-Year Term Required” — Reps Define Cognate Legislative Experience, Shut Door On Ugochinyere’s Minority Leader Bid

The bid by the member representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere, to emerge as Minority Leader of the House of Representatives may have effectively ended following the adoption of a resolution defining “cognate legislative experience” for principal officers of the House.

The decision was taken on Wednesday during plenary presided over by the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas.

The House adopted a motion sponsored by the member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency of Lagos State, Babajimi Benson, seeking a precise interpretation of Order Seven, Rule 15 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives.

The office of Minority Leader became vacant following the defection of its former occupant, Kingsley Chinda, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, and his subsequent emergence as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Rivers State.

Ugochinyere’s ambition had gained momentum last week after 61 lawmakers reportedly endorsed him for the position.

However, the endorsement was followed by controversy, including allegations of forged signatures and claims of financial inducement from different quarters.

Moving the motion, Benson said Order Seven, Rule 15 of the House Standing Orders provides that only members with cognate legislative experience as members of the House of Representatives are eligible for appointment as principal officers.

He said the House needed to define the phrase clearly in order to protect institutional memory, legislative stability and continuity.

According to him, parliamentary traditions across the world favour experienced lawmakers for leadership positions because principal officers require deep understanding of legislative procedure, constitutional interpretation and intergovernmental relations.

Benson argued that global parliamentary best practices generally rule out first-term legislators from holding principal offices.

He also drew attention to the recent decision of the 10th Senate, which specifically defined “cognate legislative experience” to mean senators who have completed at least one full four-year term.

He added that senators with multiple previous terms must have served in the immediate past Assembly to qualify under the Senate’s interpretation.

The Lagos lawmaker said the House must prioritise institutional memory, deepen parliamentary stability, minimise avoidable turbulence and promote mature representation in international parliamentary engagements.

The motion was seconded by Peter Uzokwe, representing Nnewi North/Nnewi South/Ekwusigo Federal Constituency of Anambra State.

An attempt by Uzokwe to introduce an amendment was, however, ruled out by Speaker Abbas on the ground that the question had already been put and voted upon by members.

Following the adoption of the motion, the House resolved that “cognate legislative experience,” as contemplated under Order Seven, Rule 15 of the Standing Orders, means members who have completed at least one full four-year term in the House.

The lawmakers further declared that there is no other definition of the term “cognate legislative experience” apart from the one adopted by the House.

After the resolution, Solomon Bob, representing Abua/Odual and Ahoada East Federal Constituency of Rivers State, raised a point of order, arguing that the motion was unnecessary and could limit the Speaker’s authority to interpret the rules.

“Mr Speaker, this motion is not necessary. We are, in fact, restricting your powers to interpret our rules,” Bob said.

Responding, Speaker Abbas acknowledged the concern but said he had ceded the power of interpretation to the House.

“I understand, but I cede that power to the House,” the Speaker replied.

The resolution has major implications for the contest to fill the vacant Minority Leader position.

Ugochinyere, who was first elected to the House in 2023 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party before later defecting to the Action Peoples Party, is serving his first term in the National Assembly.

By defining eligibility for principal offices to require completion of at least one full four-year term, the House has effectively ruled out first-term lawmakers from occupying such positions in the current Assembly.

The decision therefore appears to have shut the door on Ugochinyere’s ambition to lead the minority caucus in the 10th House of Representatives.

Attention is now expected to shift to ranking opposition lawmakers who meet the newly affirmed eligibility requirement and may emerge as contenders for the influential minority leadership position.

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