Reps members express strong commitment to defending Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda amid removal threats.
By Aaron Ossai
No fewer than 89 members of the Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives under the umbrella of Active Minority have thrown their weight behind the embattled Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers) warning that they would resist any attempt to remove him.
This is coming on the heels of a meeting of the Minority Caucus slated for Monday evening in Abuja. Notice for the meeting was jointly signed on Sunday, October 5, by Hon. Agbedi Frederick, leader of PDP Caucus, Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, leader, LP Caucus, Hon. Muktar Umar-Zakar, NNPP Caucus and Hon. Peter Uzokwe, leader, YPP.
It was titled, “Notice of emergency meeting of the minority caucus of the House of Representatives”, and addressed to “All Minority Members of the House of Representatives”
“You are hereby invited to an emergency meeting to discuss recent developments in the minority leadership, particularly to review the lawsuit instituted by Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, against all members of minority parties in the 10th House of Representatives”, the notice read.
The meeting was earlier scheduled for The Envoy Hotel in Abuja but as at last night, the venue was said to have been changed to Conference Room 028 in the House of Representatives New Building at 8pm.
It would be recalled that Chinda had last week filed a suit seeking an injunction to prevent the Speaker of the House, the Clerk and leadership of National Assembly and the minority parties’ caucus from removing him as minority leader.
Some minority lawmakers are planning to replace Hon. Chinda over allegations of not providing leadership and working for the ruling APC, being a close confidant of the FCT minister, Chief Nyesom Wike.
But the Active Minority group, led by a PDP member from one of the Northern states has also been meeting in Abuja ahead of the resumption of plenary on Tuesday, October 7th.
A member of the Active Minority, who is privy to the meetings, spoke on condition of anonymity boasting that they are prepared to counter the moves by certain interests in the PDP and the ADC bent on replacing Chinda because of his affiliation to the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike.
“We have stumbled on a plot by certain leaders in the PDP and ADC to replace the minority leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Kingsley Chinda. His only sin is the allegations that he is close to the FCT minister, Chief Wike.
“But I can assure you, we are ready for those sponsored to come to the floor and execute this insidious plan. Our group, the Active Minority is prepared to resist this because Hon. Chinda has discharged his responsibilities as an opposition leader very well.
“As I speak with you, the Active Minority has membership strength of 89 honourable members and more honourable members are identifying with us. Mind you, the entire opposition lawmakers are about 140 and we have an overwhelming majority to counter any undemocratic move”, he said.
When asked about the list of the Active Minority, the lawmaker said “We are keeping our identities under wraps until the House resumes. We don’t want to let the cat out of the bag now. Our strategy is also within us until we meet on the battle field”, he explained.
