A legal practitioner and political commentator, Chizy Enyi, has called on the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to immediately remove Kingsley Chinda as Minority Leader over allegations that he has defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Open Letter Details Alleged Defection
In an open letter dated May 9, 2026, addressed to the Speaker at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, Enyi argued that Chinda can no longer legitimately occupy the office of Minority Leader after reportedly appearing before the APC governorship screening committee as an aspirant on the same day. The strongly worded petition, titled "Remove Hon Ogundu Kingsley Chinda as Minority Leader of the House of Representatives or History Will Remember You Negatively Like Jezebel, Judas, Cain, Pharaoh, Delilah or King Herod," accused Chinda of acting against parliamentary convention and political morality.
Allegations and Legal Arguments
According to the letter, the Rivers lawmaker's alleged participation in the APC governorship screening process amounts to a clear indication that he has joined the ruling party and therefore forfeited his position as leader of the minority caucus in the Green Chamber. "It is against conscience, natural justice, and the rule of the House of Representatives that he continues to occupy the position of the Minority Leader," Enyi stated, while urging the Speaker to "remove him immediately without further delay."
Precedent from Akpabio's Case
The petitioner referenced the political trajectory of Godswill Akpabio, noting that the current Senate President resigned his position as Senate Minority Leader in 2018 after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. Enyi questioned what he described as a departure from established legislative tradition, asking whether one political party should be allowed to produce both the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the House simultaneously. He further accused Chinda of secretly appearing before the APC screening committee while still occupying the seat of Minority Leader under the PDP platform, describing the development as "an insult to the entire National Assembly."
Warning to the Speaker
The letter also challenged the conscience of the Speaker, warning that any attempt to ignore the matter or allegedly backdate a resignation letter could damage the integrity of the House leadership. "Mr Speaker, you are now at the verge of history, and the decision to make or mar your reputation is yours," the letter read in part. Enyi maintained that Nigerians were watching closely to see how the House leadership would respond to the issue, insisting that the matter goes beyond partisan politics and touches on the credibility of the legislature. As of the time of filing this report, neither Kingsley Chinda nor the office of the Speaker had officially responded to the allegations contained in the petition.
