‘Rivers people proud of Ugochinyere’

Rep. Awaji-Inombek D. Abiante, leader, Rivers State Caucus, House of Representatives, has said his people are proud of Hon Ikenga Ugochinyere.

He said this while responding to a statement purportedly issued by the member representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency, Hon. Dumnamene Deekor.

Dekor had called for the discipline of the Coordinator of the G-60 Lawmakers in the Green Chamber, Hon. Ugochinyere, over his position on issues in the polity.

But Abiante hailed, Ugochinyere for speaking up on the crisis rocking the state.

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“While we wouldn’t stand against the popular phrase: ”everybody is entitled to his opinion”, we refuse to collectively accede to Dum Deekor’s self serving stands as he has never been elected by the Rivers State Caucus to speak on our behalf.”

“It is a trite knowledge and backed by precedence that the Leadership of the Rivers State Caucus in the House of Representatives and the National Assembly are based on seniority. Hon Dum Deekor being a second term lawmaker cannot arrogate to himself the position of Caucus Leader in the midst of 3rd and 4th term lawmakers.

“For the records, Deekor was properly elected in 2019 haven lost his seat in 2015 at the Court of Appeal which barred him from being a member of the 8th Assembly. He was recently reelected in 2023 to serve his second term in the House. This alone disqualifies him to jostle for the leadership of the Rivers State Caucus.

We call on the general public to discountance Dum Deekor’s statement. The National Assembly is not guided by Village Council’s rules and as such everyone reserves the right to make contributions inline with his innate conviction. Hon Ugochinyere has in the estimation of right thinking Nigerians proven himself in the act of quality representation.”