Drama In Reps: Abbas Wades Into Fierce Battle Over Wike’s Ally Facing Sack As Minority Leader

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has waded into the escalating battle over the fate of Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda, whose position now hangs by a thread amid mounting rebellion within the opposition caucus.

On Monday night, Abbas made an unusual appearance at a closed-door meeting of opposition lawmakers — a gathering he would ordinarily not attend — to appeal for calm after furious members demanded Chinda’s immediate removal.

The tense session, which ran from 8 p.m. until about 11:30 p.m., boiled over when lawmakers accused Chinda of betraying the caucus by secretly securing a court injunction stopping any move to oust him.

“Abbas is not part of the caucus, but the matter was so heated that he had to come in. He begged that Chinda be given the chance to defend himself,” a source told TheCable.

Chinda, a Rivers PDP lawmaker and close ally of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, is being accused of weakening the opposition’s voice by maintaining cozy ties with the ruling APC. Members also faulted him for failing to convene a single caucus meeting since the 10th Assembly was inaugurated, a lapse they say has eroded trust in his leadership.

Defending his decision to approach the courts, Chinda told colleagues it was purely “for self-preservation.” According to an insider, he argued: “It is only a tree that hears it will be cut down and still stands. Going to court was my way of buying time to explain myself.”

He further pleaded that removing him now would “destroy” his political career, citing the example of former Speaker Patricia Etteh, whose ouster later became a permanent political scar.

But lawmakers, especially from the North, are said to be united in their call for his ouster, while southern members remain divided. A move by some South-East lawmakers to rally a vote of confidence in Chinda collapsed due to lack of support.

According to sources, the caucus was ready to act Monday night until Abbas personally intervened, appealing for a one-week reprieve to allow Chinda to address grievances.

“The lawmakers were set to remove him immediately, but out of respect for the Speaker, they stepped back and agreed to wait,” one insider revealed.

By Tuesday, Abbas read a letter from Chinda summoning opposition lawmakers to a caucus meeting — the first since the Assembly began.