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.
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