The Minority leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers) Tuesday survived an impeachment scare as the plot to remove him could not be executed.
It was gathered that those plotting his removal back pedalled after the intervention of Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and the support of mostly the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) lawmakers.
At the resumption of plenary, no letter was read from the minority parties requesting a change in its leadership neither was there any motion raised against Chinda.
Instead, Speaker Abbas announced a meeting of the minority caucus in the office of minority leader after the plenary.
Recall they have been plans to remove Chinda as the minority leader over allegations of not providing leadership and hobnobbing with the FCT minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike.
Following the development, Chinda had filed a suit at a Federal High Court on Abuja seeking an injunction stopping the speaker, Clerk of the National Assembly, members of the PDP, NNPP, SDP, ADC, YPP from removing him from the position pending the determination of the suit.
Consequently, the minority caucus met on Monday night at the National Assembly. The meeting was jointly convened 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 alleged that Hon. Agbedi was billed to replace Chinda as minority leader if they had succeeded in removing him.
Sources said if they had succeeded in removing Chinda, they would have eventually changed the entire leadership of the minority.
Before the meeting, a group of opposition lawmakers under the auspices of Active Minority had issued a statement on Sunday warning against any attempt to replace Hon. Chinda.
The meeting held on Monday night in Conference Room 028, House of Representatives New Building, began at about after 9pm and lasted till after 11pm. It was a closed door meeting and journalists were barred from the venue.
After the meeting, none of the lawmakers agreed to talk to the media. But sources at the meeting said, the earring groups reached a consensus to suspend the plan to remove Hon. Chinda.
A lawmaker who spoke on condition of anonymity said “It was a very Frank meeting because everyone was allowed to air his or her grievances and after which we all agreed to put behind us whatever had transpired.
But at yesterday’s meeting, which held in the Minority leaders Conference, New Building, sources said it was more like a jovial gathering where all the minority lawmakers agreed to sheathe their swords and work as a team.
As usual, after the meeting, all the lawmakers avoided media inquiries but we’re all smiles as they left the venue.
Attempts to get Hon. Chinda to speak on what transpired at the meeting fell on deaf ears. Similarly, the convenes of the Monday meeting, also shied away from talking to the media.
