Agbese lauds House resolution barring first-time lawmakers from principal offices

From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

The Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has lauded the resolution of the parliament barring first-time members from holding principal officer positions.

Agbese said the House resolution clarifying Order Seven, Rule 15 of its Standing Orders, on who is qualified to be a principal officer, was a vindication of his position on the issue of the minority caucus leadership.

The House had, in a motion sponsored by the member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Babajimi Benson, on Wednesday, barred first-time members from holding principal offices, including the minority leadership in the House.

The House defined “cognate legislative experience” as contained in Order Seven, Rule 15 of the Standing Orders of the House to mean “members who have completed at least one full four-year term.” The House also stated unequivocally that there is no other definition of the term.

In the aftermath of the resignation of Kingsley Chinda as minority leader, 61 members of the minority caucus, in a letter to the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, last week, nominated the member representing Ideato North/Ideato Federal Constituency, Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, as their choice for the minority leader position.

However, Agbese, who was listed among the 61 members, last Thursday raised a matter of privilege at plenary to disassociate himself from the nomination, noting that his signature was appended for a different purpose.

Nonetheless, the House’s position on what constitutes “cognate experience” has effectively shut out Ugochinyere and other first-time members from holding principal officer positions.

The Deputy Spokesperson, who represents the Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, said the clarity on the rule is good for the parliament.

According to him, “Order Seven, Rule 15 is clear on how to become a principal officer in the House of Representatives. You must be a ranking member. You must have cognate experience. You cannot be a greenhorn and expect to lead the minority caucus.

“Today’s resolution has vindicated me. It is purely an act of God. This is good for the institutional memory of our dear parliament,” he said.