The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has stepped in to mediate the crisis threatening the position of the Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, amid growing discontent within the opposition caucus.
Sources revealed that Speaker Abbas joined an emergency, closed-door meeting of opposition lawmakers on Monday night — a session he ordinarily would not attend — to calm rising tensions after several members demanded Chinda’s immediate removal.
The meeting, which began around 8 p.m. and lasted until 11:30 p.m., became heated as lawmakers expressed anger over Chinda’s decision to secure a court order restraining opposition parties from removing him.
According to a source who spoke with The Cable, “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.”
Hon. Kingsley Chinda, who represents the Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency of Rivers State under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has faced accusations of complacency and of being too close to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) through his political ally, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
Lawmakers reportedly accused him of failing to convene a single caucus meeting since the 10th National Assembly was inaugurated, eroding confidence in his leadership.
The restraining order obtained by Chinda from the Federal High Court in Abuja barred the PDP, LP, NNPP, APGA, SDP, ADC, YPP, and even the Speaker of the House from taking any steps to remove him pending the determination of a motion on notice.
Defending his decision during the tense session, Chinda told colleagues that seeking the court’s protection was for “self-preservation” and not a show of defiance.
“He told them it is only a tree that will hear it is about to be cut down and still stand,” a source revealed. “He said going to court was to buy time for him to explain himself and get their understanding.”
The embattled Minority Leader pleaded that his removal would damage his political career, drawing parallels with former Speaker Patricia Etteh, who was removed under controversy in 2007.
Insiders disclosed that lawmakers from northern states are united in demanding Chinda’s removal, while southern members remain divided. “Lawmakers from Oyo and some other southern states want him removed, but the South-East tried to rally a vote of confidence — which didn’t succeed,” a source said.
The opposition caucus was reportedly poised to act immediately on Monday night, but agreed to hold off after Speaker Abbas appealed for calm and requested a one-week reprieve for Chinda to address members’ grievances.
On Tuesday, the Speaker read a letter from Chinda inviting opposition lawmakers to a caucus meeting — a move seen as his attempt to mend fences and rebuild confidence.