EXCLUSIVE: Abbas intervenes to stop removal of Wike’s ally Chinda as reps’ minority leader

Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, has waded into the crisis threatening Kingsley Chinda’s position as minority leader, TheCable can report. 

Opposition lawmakers met behind closed doors on Monday night to decide Chinda’s fate, but in an unusual move, Abbas joined the session with the minority leader and urged aggrieved members to give him time to resolve the crisis, appealing for peace.

Sources told TheCable that the session, which began at 8 pm and lasted until about 11:30 pm, became heated after several lawmakers insisted on Chinda’s removal over his decision to secure a court order restraining opposition parties from replacing him.

“Abbas is not part of the caucus, but because of the seriousness of the issue, he came. He begged that Chinda should be allowed to explain himself,” a source familiar with the opposition politics told TheCable.

BACKGROUND

Chinda, a close ally of Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), and member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is facing mounting resistance from opposition lawmakers who argue that his ties with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are weakening the unity of the caucus.

They argued that the perception of complacency has eroded confidence in Chinda’s ability to provide effective leadership to the opposition and in holding the ruling party accountable.

Lawmakers said Chinda has not convened a meeting of the minority caucus since the 10th assembly was inaugurated.

Chinda, who represents the Obio/Akpor federal constituency of Rivers, had secured an ex parte order from the federal high court in Abuja, stopping all parties from taking any action to remove him pending the determination of a motion on notice.

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

The 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) were also joined as respondents.

In an affidavit deposed to in the court, Chinda said 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”.

He said “the only reason given for the plot to remove him was his association” with Wike.

The suit, sources said, infuriated lawmakers who insisted on his removal.

MONDAY’S MEETING

TheCable learnt that during the meeting on Monday, Chinda told the lawmakers that the suit was intended to allow him time to resolve the issues to avoid being disgraced.

“The lawmakers were so angry that he went behind them to get a court order without consultation, just to corner them and stop any move against him,” a source said.

In his defence, Chinda reportedly told the caucus that the lawsuit was “for self-preservation” and not directed against anyone.

“He told them it is only a tree that will hear it is about to be cut down and still stand. He said going to court was to buy time for him to explain himself and get their understanding,” an insider said.

Chinda also pleaded that removing him would rubbish his political career and “self-esteem”, citing the case of Patricia Etteh, whose ouster as speaker was later weaponised against her by political opponents.

DIVIDED OPPOSITION

Those privy to the forces against the minority leader said lawmakers from the north are united in demanding Chinda’s removal, while those from the south are split on the matter.

“Lawmakers from Oyo and some other southern states want him removed, but the south-east tried to rally support for a vote of confidence in Chinda. That did not succeed because they couldn’t gather enough backing,” an insider said.

A source said Abbas appealed to the lawmakers for Chinda to be granted a one-week reprieve to address members’ grievances.

“The lawmakers were ready to act that night, but out of respect for the speaker, they agreed to give him time,” the source said.

During the plenary on Tuesday, Abbas read Chinda’s letter inviting opposition lawmakers to a meeting.