House of Representatives Considers Suspending Ugochinyere Over Allegations of Politicising Oversight Functions

The House of Representatives is contemplating the suspension of Ikenga Ugochinyere, Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Downstream, following accusations of politicising the oversight function in Rivers State.

During the plenary session in Abuja on Thursday, Yusuf Gagdi (APC-Plateau) raised a motion of personal explanation, asserting that his privilege as a House member had been breached. Gagdi highlighted that approximately 50 members of the House had visited Governor Similaye Fubara of Rivers State in what was supposed to be a non-partisan oversight function. However, Ugochinyere’s subsequent statement to the media implied that the visit was a political move, making it appear as though the House was aligning itself with the governor.

Gagdi criticized Ugochinyere’s statement as misleading and damaging to the House’s impartiality, stressing that the visit was merely a courtesy call during their oversight activities.

Contrarily, Mark Essien (PDP-Akwa Ibom) argued that the issue was inconsequential and that the House should focus on more pressing national matters.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, presiding over the plenary, assured that the House leadership would review the report. If deemed necessary, the issue will be forwarded to the Privilege and Ethics Committee for further investigation.

Despite some members expressing a desire to discuss the matter further, Kalu emphasized that personal explanations are not subject to debate, thus concluding the discussion.