Reps clarifies eligibility for principal offices, dims Ugochinyere's minority leader ambition

June 10, 2026

By Gift ChapiOdekina

The House of Representatives on Wednesday adopted a formal interpretation of its Standing Orders defining “cognate legislative experience” as the completion of at least one full four-year term in the National Assembly, a move that has effectively ruled out first-term lawmakers from occupying principal offices.

The resolution, passed during plenary presided over by Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, has major implications for the ongoing contest for the position of Minority Leader, a seat left vacant following the exit of Kingsley Chinda.

The decision followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by the lawmaker representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency of Lagos State, Babajimi Benson, titled “Need for a Precise Definition of Order Seven, Rule 15 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives.”