The Rivers Caucus in the House of Representatives has issued a stern rebuke and call for disciplinary action against Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere following his press briefing on Tuesday, June 18th. The briefing, which addressed the ongoing discord between the Rivers State governor, the House of Assembly, and Local Government Chairmen, was labeled as misleading and provocative by the caucus.
A statement signed by Hon. Dumnamene Dekor, Leader of the Rivers Caucus, and Hon. Cyril Hart, Secretary of the caucus, alleged that Ugochinyere has consistently exhibited a lack of decorum and responsible conduct befitting his high office.
“Hon. Ugochinyere’s latest intervention is laden with all the ingredients that have characterized his previous actions: blackmail, half-truths, outright lies, misinformation, and disinformation,” the statement read. “In every instance, his prejudicial media statements also constitute a thoughtless assault on due process and ongoing judicial processes aimed at resolving the disagreement in Rivers.”
The caucus further criticized the Imo lawmaker for meddling in Rivers State affairs. They emphasized that his actions are not only uncalled for but also “undermine the integrity of the House of Representatives and the privileges of its members.”
“One year into his term as a lawmaker, Hon. Ugochinyere has rather doubled down on infamy, dishonor, and disreputable behavior, details of which we have at our disposal,” the statement continued.
The caucus underscored that the disagreement in Rivers State has never been brought to the floor of the House of Representatives, thus not warranting intervention from members, particularly from those not representing Rivers State.
In their concluding remarks, the Rivers Caucus publicly urged the leadership of the House of Representatives to take urgent steps to discipline Hon. Ugochinyere. They accused him of bringing disrepute to the House and misleading some members by not fully disclosing his alleged pecuniary interests.
The Rivers Caucus’ call for disciplinary action against Hon. Ugochinyere highlights the tensions within the House of Representatives regarding inter-state interference and the importance of maintaining decorum and integrity among lawmakers. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the House leadership will respond to these serious allegations and the request for disciplinary measures.
