A major leadership crisis is brewing within the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives, as members prepare to meet in Abuja on Monday over an alleged plot to remove their leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda.
The tension follows a lawsuit filed by Chinda at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where he is seeking to stop what he described as an unconstitutional move to unseat him. In the suit filed on September 25, 2025, Chinda alleged that some lawmakers were orchestrating his removal due to his perceived closeness to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Chinda, who represents Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency of Rivers State under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), argued that the attempt to oust him violates his constitutional right to freedom of association. He urged the court to intervene and prevent the plan from being carried out.
The case lists twelve defendants, including the National Assembly, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the House of Representatives, the Speaker, the Clerk of the House, and six political parties – 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).
The latest development has prompted leaders of the Minority Caucus to call an emergency meeting in Abuja. The notice of meeting, circulated on Sunday, was jointly signed by four lawmakers across various opposition parties: Frederick Agbedi (PDP), Afam Ogene (LP), Muktar Umar-Zakari (NNPP), and Peter Uzokwe (YPP).
Sources within the House say the move to remove Chinda has been gaining momentum in recent weeks, with some lawmakers accusing him of weakening the opposition’s voice in the 10th Assembly.
“Since the 10th National Assembly was inaugurated over two years ago, Chinda has not called a single Minority Caucus meeting,” one aggrieved lawmaker, who asked not to be named, said. “He is now seen to be too close to the ruling APC, and this closeness is affecting our ability to function effectively as opposition.”
Other lawmakers believe Chinda’s continued media appearances, often expressing views not aligned with the PDP’s official position, have also hurt his credibility as Minority Leader. They argue that his leadership has contributed to the public perception that the 10th Assembly is merely endorsing executive decisions without scrutiny – a so-called “rubber stamp” legislature.
The lawmakers behind the move are reportedly determined to effect his removal when the House resumes plenary on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.
This isn’t the first time internal crisis has rocked the opposition in the National Assembly. In the past, leadership tussles within the minority parties have often led to divisions, weakened oversight roles, and impacted their collective bargaining power in the legislature.
Kingsley Chinda, a senior PDP figure and loyalist of former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, has long been a prominent voice in the opposition bloc. However, Wike’s appointment as FCT Minister by the APC-led federal government has placed some of his allies, including Chinda, in the eye of the storm.
Many within the PDP view Chinda’s closeness to Wike who has faced backlash from some PDP members for aligning with the ruling party as a betrayal of the opposition’s values. This has further deepened the mistrust around his leadership of the Minority Caucus.
Meanwhile, political observers warn that the internal strife may distract the opposition from its core duty of holding the executive to account, especially at a time when Nigerians are grappling with serious economic hardship, insecurity, and rising cost of living.
As the drama unfolds, all eyes will be on Tuesday’s plenary session to see whether the Minority Caucus can resolve its differences or plunge deeper into crisis.
