Nigeria, June 5 -- Minority members in the House of Representatives have disproved that signatures were forged in the nomination of Ikenga Ugochinyere for minority leader, insisting that all signatories freely endorsed him.

The lawmakers, operating under the banner of the G-60 Minority Caucus, clarified a statement signed by Mukhtar Umar (NDC, Kano) and Seyi Sowunmi (NDC, Lagos) on Thursday, hours after a dramatic confrontation in the House over the authenticity of an endorsement document supporting Mr Ugochinyere.

The statement was issued in response to allegations by the deputy House spokesperson, Philip Agbese (APC, Benue), during plenary that his signature had been forged on a document purportedly showing support for Mr Ugochinyere'...