House Minority Leadership: Probe Ikenga Ugochinyere, 60 Lawmakers Over Alleged Dollar Inducement, Group Tells DSS

The Centre for Legislative Accountability and Democratic Integrity (CLADI) has petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS), demanding an investigation into allegations that lawmakers received financial inducements in connection with the race for the position of minority leader in the House of Representatives.

In a petition titled “Request for Immediate Investigation into Alleged Financial Inducement of Members of the House of Representatives in the Contest for Minority Leadership Position”, the group urged the DSS to investigate Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere and more than 60 opposition lawmakers reportedly involved in the endorsement process.

The petition, dated June 5, 2026, and signed by its National President, Dr. Usman Ibrahim Abdullahi, and National Secretary, Barrister Chika Nwafor, described the allegations as a serious threat to the integrity of the National Assembly and Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

According to the group, reports suggesting that lawmakers may have received financial incentives of $50,000 to support a particular candidate for minority leader have raised grave concerns that cannot be ignored by security and anti-corruption agencies.

The petition followed the emergence of Ugochinyere, the lawmaker representing Ideato Federal Constituency of Imo State, as the preferred candidate of a majority of opposition lawmakers following the resignation of Hon. Kingsley Chinda as minority leader.

CLADI said the allegations had the potential to erode public confidence in parliament if left unaddressed.

“The National Assembly occupies a sacred position in our constitutional democracy. Any suggestion that principal officers of the parliament are being produced through financial inducement rather than democratic consensus represents a direct assault on the integrity of the legislature and must be thoroughly investigated,” the petition read.

The group said the DSS should establish whether money exchanged hands during consultations leading to the endorsement of candidates for minority leadership positions.

“We are compelled to bring this matter to your attention because of widespread reports alleging that substantial sums of foreign currency ($50,000) were offered to lawmakers to secure their signatures and support. While these claims remain allegations, their gravity requires urgent and impartial investigation,” the letter stated.

The organisation said Nigerians deserved to know whether lawmakers acted independently or were influenced by financial considerations.

“The question before the nation is simple: were these endorsements products of conviction and consensus, or were they procured through monetary inducement? The answer is critical to public trust in the legislative institution,” the petition added.

CLADI urged the DSS to scrutinise bank transactions, communication records and other relevant materials that could assist investigators in determining the authenticity of the claims.

The group further called on the agency to identify and prosecute anyone found culpable, regardless of political status or affiliation.

“No individual should be allowed to compromise the credibility of the House of Representatives. If public officers exchanged money to influence the emergence of parliamentary leaders, such conduct amounts to a betrayal of the electorate and an affront to democratic values,” the petition said.

The organisation warned that failure to investigate the matter could create a dangerous precedent where leadership positions within democratic institutions become commodities available to the highest bidder.