Tajudeen Abbas Mediates Peace as Minority Lawmakers Shelve Chinda’s Removal

The internal crisis within the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives appears to have been temporarily resolved following the intervention of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.

The Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, has been at the center of controversy after he filed a lawsuit to halt moves by some members of the caucus seeking his removal from office.

Chinda, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency of Rivers State, was accused by certain colleagues of failing to provide effective opposition leadership since assuming office in 2023. Critics alleged that his close relationship with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike — an ally of President Bola Tinubu — had compromised his stance as an opposition figure.

In anticipation of attempts to oust him, Chinda approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, arguing that any attempt to remove him based on association with Wike would be unconstitutional, citing the right to freedom of association under the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

However, tensions eased on Monday night when Speaker Abbas attended a meeting of the minority caucus in Abuja. According to a lawmaker who spoke under anonymity, the Speaker’s presence helped calm frayed nerves after heated exchanges that lasted for about three hours.

“It was intense. Some members wanted the entire minority leadership dissolved,” the source said. “The Speaker intervened and appealed for calm, urging members to allow him time to mediate.”

Chinda reportedly apologised to his colleagues for approaching the court and pledged to withdraw the suit. Another caucus member disclosed that some lawmakers had already gathered signatures to initiate his impeachment before Abbas’s timely intervention.

The lawmaker explained that the planned impeachment could have deepened regional tensions within the caucus, as Chinda hails from the South while his deputy, Isah Ali, is from the North. “Impeaching a southerner and sparing a northerner would have sent the wrong message,” he added.

The meeting also touched on growing resentment over Deputy Minority Whip George Ozodinobi’s viral claim of securing ₦19 billion worth of projects in the 2024 budget, a statement that has reportedly angered many members who received far less allocations.

Chinda is now expected to embark on a series of reconciliatory meetings with members of minority parties in the coming weeks to consolidate his leadership and maintain peace within the caucus.