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The internal conflict within the minority caucus of the House of Representatives has intensified ahead of the resumption of plenary on Tuesday.
Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers), facing a potential ousting by a faction of minority lawmakers, has secured a court order to prevent both the House leadership and the Minority Caucus from removing him.
Chinda is reportedly being targeted for removal due to his close ties with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Members of the caucus are expected to hold a “crucial meeting” today to determine Chinda’s position.
This meeting, scheduled to take place in one of the conference rooms in the House of Representatives section of the National Assembly, is anticipated to include all caucus members.
The invitation to the meeting was issued by leaders of four minority parties.
These include Frederick Agbedi (PDP), Afam Victor Ogene (LP), Muktar Umar-Zakari (NNPP), and Peter Nzokwe (YPP).
However, Chinda’s supporters, organised under a faction known as the ‘Active Minority’, are not backing down. They claim to have the majority of members within the caucus.
They are preparing for a confrontation with those opposing Chinda’s continued leadership.
Those named as defendants in Chinda’s legal case include the National Assembly, the Clerk to the National Assembly, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Clerk to the House of Representatives, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), the Labour Party (LP), the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Young Progressives Party (YPP).
Justice J.O. Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted an interim injunction ordering all parties involved to maintain the status quo until the court decides on the matter.
The meeting notice stated: “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 agenda includes formulating a “response to the lawsuit instituted by Chinda, against all minority parties and any other business (AOB).”
The interim court order, which was based on an application filed by Chinda’s legal counsel, Dr. J.Y. Musa (SAN), instructs all involved to maintain the current situation until the substantive suit is heard and decided.
Chinda is seeking “an order restraining the defendants, their servants, privies, officers, agents, members, howsoever described, from removing him as Minority Leader of the House of Representatives without compliance with the due process of the law or accepting/recognising any exercise by any person(s) purportedly removing him from his position as the Minority Leader.”
Justice Abdulmalik ruled, “It is my considered firm opinion that in order to ensure all the parties listed in these processes have equal playing ground by virtue of their constitutional rights enshrined in Section 36 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended), as well as the need to protect the res sought in the application, I hereby order as follows:
“THAT the applicant shall forthwith serve on all the defendants/respondents the Motion on Notice with Suit No:- FHC/ABJ/CS/1936/2025 filed on 16th September 2025, along with all relevant processes filed in this matter, so as not to foist a fait accompli on the outcome of the reliefs sought in this application, which are also the exact same reliefs prayed in the Motion on Notice with Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1936/2025.
“That the hearing of the Motion on Notice with Suit No:- FHC/ABJ/CS/1936/2025 filed on 16th September 2025 shall, pursuant to Section 6 (6) (b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), be expediently resolved on its merit by this Honourable Court for the attainment of Justice in this matter.
“THAT all the concerned parties listed in this application shall maintain the status quo in respect of the res prayed on the face of the Motion Ex-Parte pending the hearing and determination on its MERIT of the Motion on Notice with Suit No:- FHC/ABJ/CS/1936/2025 filed on 16th September 2025.
“THAT all the Defendants/Respondents SHALL be served with Hearing Notices in respect of this matter.”
Members of the minority caucus backing Chinda, under the banner of the ‘Active Minority’, are gearing up for a confrontation with their counterparts pushing for his removal.
At least 89 lawmakers have pledged their support for Chinda and vowed to resist any move to remove him from office.
A member of the Active Minority, who requested anonymity, stated that they were ready to challenge efforts by some members of the PDP and ADC to oust Chinda over his perceived closeness to Wike.
He said, “We have stumbled on a plot by certain leaders in the PDP and ADC to replace Chinda. His only sin is the allegation that he is close to 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 Chinda has discharged his responsibilities as an opposition leader very well.
“As I speak with you, the Active Minority has a membership strength of 89 members and more members are identifying with us.
“All opposition lawmakers are about 140, and we have an overwhelming majority to counter any undemocratic move.”
When asked to reveal the identities of the Active Minority members, the legislator replied, “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 battlefield.”
On their reasons for supporting Chinda, the lawmaker said, “Chinda’s unwavering commitment to upholding democratic principles and advocating the rights of the Nigerians has set him apart as a beacon of hope in times of uncertainty.
“Chinda has since 2023 vehemently stood against the defection of opposition lawmakers to the APC.
“One of Chinda’s notable contributions lies in his staunch opposition to members of the opposition defecting to the ruling party, citing violations of constitutional provisions and electoral laws.”
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