Court restrains opposition parties from removing Wike’s ally Chinda as reps minority leader

The federal high court in Abuja has restrained opposition parties in the house of representatives from removing Kingsley Chinda as minority leader.

In an exparte motion on September 22, J.O. Abdulmalik, the presiding judge, ordered all parties to desist from any action to remove Chinda pending the determination of a motion on notice filed by the lawmaker.

“It is my considered firm opinion that in order to ensure all the parties listed in these processes have equal playing ground by virtue of their constitutional rights enshrined in Section 36 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), as well as the need to protect the res sought in the application,” the court held.

The order, issued in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1936/2025, restrained the defendants “from removing the Plaintiff as Minority Leader of the House of Representatives without compliance with the due process of the law or accepting/recognizing any exercise by any person(s) purportedly removing the Plaintiff from his position pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice”.

BACKGROUND

Chinda, a ranking member from Rivers state, is an ally of Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).

The schism in the PDP has deepened the cracks within the minority caucus in the lower chamber.

The lawmaker alleged that moves to remove him were politically motivated because of his closeness to Wike.

In the affidavit deposed to the court, Chinda said he was duly nominated as minority leader by members of opposition parties, and attempts to remove him do not follow due process.

“The members of the political parties with minority members in the House of Representatives nominated me as the Minority Leader, the position which I occupy in the House of Representatives till date,” the affidavit reads. 

“The instrument nominating me as Minority Leader shall be relied upon at the trial of this suit.

“The only reason given for the plot to remove me is that I associate with the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, who is also a member of the Peoples Democratic Party.”

He further argued that the Standing Orders of the house, 11th edition, provide clear procedures for the removal of any officer, but that those procedures had not been followed.

The lawmaker argued that while the law “has not been complied with, the said minority members are hell bent on removing me”.

Chinda also claimed that some PDP lawmakers had been holding “clandestine meetings and lobbying members of the other minority parties to have me removed as Minority Leader of the house before the resumption of the House”.

THE DEFENDANTS

The suit lists the national assembly, clerk of the national assembly, house of representatives, speaker of the house, and clerk of the house as defendants.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Social Democratic Party (SDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Young Progressives Party (YPP) are also joined as respondents.

REPS MINORITY CAUCUS TO MEET TODAY

In the meantime, the minority caucus in the green chamber is scheduled to meet today in Abuja.

On Sunday, Agbedi Frederick, leader of the PDP caucus, Afam Ogene of the LP, Muktar Umar-Zakari of the NNPP, and Peter Uzokwe of the YPP co-issued the meeting notice.

TheCable understands that the minority lawmakers are expected to discuss Chinda’s suit and other matters affecting the opposition in the house.

Critics say Chinda’s leadership has grown too close to the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government, weakening the opposition’s role in challenging the administration on worsening poverty, insecurity, and corruption.

They argue that the perception of complacency has eroded confidence in Chinda’s ability to provide effective leadership to the opposition.

Lawmakers also fault the minority leader for not convening a minority caucus meeting.