The discontent among opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives has taken a new turn as Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, has rushed to court in a bid to stop moves to remove him from office
By Emma Ogbuehi
The discontent among opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives has taken a new turn as Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, has rushed to court in a bid to stop moves to remove him from office. Critics accuse his leadership style as part of the reasons the legislature is being tagged as a ‘rubber stamp’ to the executive.
This brewing crisis was fueled by insinuations of compromise by the minority leader, hence the rumours of moves among opposition lawmakers to demand for his removal when the House resumes from its vacation next Tuesday, October 7.
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The minority leadership under Chinda has been accused of being overly cozy with the All Progressives Congress (APC), thus rendering the minority caucus ineffective in holding the ruling party accountable for pressing issues like crippling hardship, rampant insecurity, and widespread corruption.
The lawmaker’s reluctance to speak out has sparked public outcry, eroding trust in the opposition’s ability to provide robust oversight.
Specifically, Chinda has been accused of failing to convene a single Minority Caucus meeting since the inauguration of the 10th House of Representatives over two years ago. Additionally, he has been criticized for granting media interviews that contradict the collectively agreed position of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and for making the Minority Caucus appear as lacking in cohesion.
Curiously, rather than addressing the allegations from his colleagues, Chinda has opted to take the matter to court, naming the National Assembly, House of Representatives, the Clerk, the Speaker and all minority parties, as defendants, in a move many see as an attempt to stall his potential removal, bordering on self-preservation, rather than the collective good of the legislature and essence of opposition voice in a democracy.
He alleged in the court documents that the move against him stems from his close association with Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Governor of Rivers State, who is notably the only PDP member in President Bola Tinubu’s APC-led cabinet.
Some of the opposition lawmakers say that the development appears to be a classic case of the guilty fearing accountability. By rushing to court, Chinda may be attempting to buy time and stall the removal process.
In a court document dated September 15, 2025, Chinda is seeking an injunction to restrain the defendants (the National Assembly, House of Representatives, Speaker of the House, all minority parties and Clerk of the House) and their agents from removing him as Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
Despite this, opposition lawmakers have expressed concerns that the current minority leadership’s apparent collusion with the ruling party undermines their ability to provide effective oversight and hold the government accountable. This has raised doubts about their commitment to genuine opposition objectives and the interests of the people.
