The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives is set to meet in Abuja today (Monday) to deliberate on the lawsuit filed by Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, over an alleged plot to remove him from office.
A notice of the meeting, jointly signed by Agbedi Frederick (PDP), Afam Ogene (LP), Muktar Umar-Zakari (NNPP), and Peter Uzokwe (YPP), listed the agenda as “Response to the lawsuit instituted by House Minority Leader, Rt. Hon. Kingsley Chinda, against all minority parties and any other business.”
Chinda, who represents Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency of Rivers State, filed a suit before the Federal High Court, Abuja, on September 25, 2025, seeking to halt what he described as an illegal attempt to oust him over his perceived closeness to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1936/2025, the lawmaker contends that any move to remove him would violate his constitutional right to freedom of association and the Standing Orders of the House. He urged the court to restrain the defendants from carrying out the alleged plan.
Those listed as defendants include the National Assembly, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the House of Representatives, the Speaker, the Clerk of the House, and leadership of the minority parties—PDP, Labour Party, NNPP, APGA, SDP, ADC, and YPP.
Sources within the National Assembly told Hobnob News that several opposition lawmakers have been holding closed-door meetings to finalize plans for Chinda’s removal when the House reconvenes on Tuesday, October 7.
Critics accuse Chinda of weakening the opposition’s stance in parliament and fostering a “rubber stamp” image for the legislature through his alleged alliance with the ruling All Progressives Congress. Others claim he has failed to convene minority caucus meetings or provide effective leadership since the inauguration of the 10th Assembly.
In his court filing, Chinda argued that his removal would not only be unconstitutional but could also destabilize parliamentary order. He noted that the PDP, with about 83 lawmakers, remains the largest minority party and therefore holds the right to produce the Minority Leader, followed by Labour Party (22), NNPP (15), APGA (5), SDP (2), ADC (1), and YPP (1).
He also alleged that while most members are still away on recess, some PDP lawmakers have been lobbying other minority parties to back his removal before plenary resumes.
“From my legislative experience, overwhelming political pressure may be brought to bear on the leadership of the House to endorse an illegal exercise aimed at my removal, which is imminent,” Chinda warned in his affidavit.
The lawmaker maintained that his association with Wike, who also hails from the PDP in Rivers State, does not justify his removal and that due process must be followed before any leadership change in the House.
Chinda therefore called on the court to protect his constitutional rights and stop any attempt to unseat him without due process, warning that his arbitrary removal could trigger unrest within the legislative chamber.
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