By Omoniyi David
The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives is set to hold a crucial meeting today (Monday), in Abuja to deliberate on the lawsuit filed by the Minority Leader, Rt. Hon. Kingsley Chinda, over alleged moves to remove him from office.
A notice of the meeting, jointly signed by Hon. Agbedi Frederick (PDP), Hon. Afam Ogene (Labour Party), Hon. Muktar Umar-Zakari (NNPP), and Hon. Peter Uzokwe (YPP), stated that the session will focus on “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, had on September 25, 2025, filed suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1936/2025 before the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking to stop what he described as a plot by some minority lawmakers to oust him over his alleged closeness to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He contended that any attempt to remove him would be unconstitutional and a violation of his fundamental right to freedom of association as guaranteed by Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He, therefore, asked the court to restrain the defendants from proceeding with the alleged plan.
The defendants in the suit include the National Assembly, Clerk of the National Assembly, House of Representatives, Speaker of the House, Clerk of the House, and six minority parties: 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 Progressive Party (YPP).
Legislative sources disclosed that some lawmakers within the caucus accuse Chinda of failing to provide effective leadership and of being too accommodating of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). They argue that his perceived closeness to the government has weakened the opposition’s voice in the 10th Assembly and reduced its ability to hold the executive accountable.
Critics also claim that Chinda has not convened any minority caucus meeting since the inauguration of the 10th Assembly and has at times made public statements inconsistent with the positions of his party, the PDP.
In his statement of claim, Chinda noted that the PDP remains the largest minority party in the House with 83 lawmakers, followed by the Labour Party with 22, NNPP with 15, APGA with five, SDP with two, ADC with one, and YPP with one. The APC currently holds the majority with 233 members.
He argued that, by parliamentary convention, the largest minority party reserves the right to produce the Minority Leader.
Any attempt to remove him without due process, he said, would therefore be illegal and contrary to the House Standing Orders, which require proper notice and consent of a majority of members from the affected parties before any leadership change.
Chinda further alleged that, while the House has been on recess since July 23, 2025, a group of PDP lawmakers had been holding secret meetings with members of other minority parties to mobilize support for his removal ahead of the October 7 resumption.
He warned that undue political pressure might be exerted on the National Assembly leadership to endorse what he described as an “unlawful process.”
According to him, his removal, if carried out, could destabilize the Minority Caucus and heighten tension within the legislature.
He therefore prayed the court to restrain the defendants from taking any action against him and to affirm his constitutional right to freedom of association.
