The House of Representatives has referred its member, Ikenga Ugochinyere, to the Committee on Ethics for investigation following his solidarity visit to Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
Ugochinyere is under scrutiny after leading about 50 lawmakers to attend Governor Fubara’s first anniversary celebration in Port Harcourt.
A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Imo State, Ugochinyere has been a vocal supporter of Fubara in the House, reports PREMIUM TIMES.
It would be recalled that Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, are embroiled in a supremacy battle, with PDP members in the House divided between the two factions.
In recent months, Ugochinyere has publicly supported Fubara, claiming to lead a group of 60 lawmakers, dubbed G60, in the governor’s favor.
The House’s decision to investigate Ugochinyere followed a point of privilege raised by Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau). Gagdi, citing Order Six Rule One, argued that his privilege as a House member was breached, alleging that Ugochinyere misrepresented the purpose of the lawmakers’ visit to Rivers State.
Gagdi claimed that Ugochinyere issued a press statement suggesting that the lawmakers represented the House in their visit to Fubara.
He clarified that the lawmakers were members of the Local Content Committee in Rivers for an overnight assignment, and the visit to the governor was merely a courtesy call.
“One of our colleagues issued a press statement that the delegation was in Rivers State for a solidarity visit to the governor. It is okay to do a solidarity visit but not for members to be misrepresented. I urge the House to look for this publication and interact with Ikenga,” Gagdi said.
As Gagdi moved the motion, some lawmakers who attended the visit attempted to raise a point of order, but Deputy Speaker Ben Kalu, who presided over the session, shut them down, insisting that points of privilege are not debatable, which caused murmurs in the chamber.
Mark Esset (PDP, Akwa-Ibom) managed to speak, stating that he attended the visit and did not believe there was any misrepresentation. “In my opinion, I don’t see anything here. The same paper publication said some members of the House. There is nothing here. There is freedom of association,” Esset said.
However, Kalu scolded the lawmakers for turning the chamber into a “marketplace” and subsequently referred Ugochinyere to the Committee on Ethics for further investigation.
