The House of Representatives has amended its Standing Orders to restrict eligibility for principal leadership positions, effectively shutting out first-term lawmakers from offices such as Minority Leader, Deputy Minority Leader, and other key roles in the chamber.
Gatekeepers News reports that the decision, taken during Wednesday’s plenary, means lawmakers who have not completed at least one full four-year term in the House are now ineligible for principal officer positions.
The amendment is widely seen as directly affecting the leadership ambition of Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, who had been positioned as Minority Leader-designate by a bloc of opposition lawmakers.
According to reports, the change followed a motion that argued that leadership roles should be reserved for members with sufficient legislative experience to strengthen institutional memory and ensure effective lawmaking.
Lawmakers supporting the amendment maintained that it aligns with parliamentary best practices and helps stabilize the leadership structure of the House.
The development comes after a strong push within the opposition caucus, where about 61 of 81 minority lawmakers had earlier endorsed Ugochinyere for the Minority Leader position. The endorsement had been formally submitted to the Speaker for approval, sparking internal disagreements within the minority bloc.
However, the new rule now overrides that arrangement, as it clearly states that only lawmakers who have served at least one full term qualify for principal offices.
Some members of the House have also questioned the timing of the amendment, linking it to ongoing political negotiations within the minority caucus over who should replace the former Minority Leader.
