More Crisis Looms In Reps As Chinda Occupies Minority Leader’s Seat

Another round of drama is imminent in the House of
Representatives as factional leader of Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP), Caucus, Kingsley Chinda (Rivers) has occupied the seat meant
for the Minority Leader.

Recall that, the House Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila on Wednesday
announced Ndudi Elumelu (PDP, Delta) as the House Minority Leader
as against a list said to have been sent in by the opposition
PDP.

Chinda’s group had protested the announcement by the speaker,
accusing him of plotting to undermine opposition parties by
foisting leaders on them.

But both Gbajabiamila and the Elumelu faction contended that the
announcement was in line with Order 7 Rule 8, 12 and 14 which deal
with matters of ranking and the rights of all minority parties to
produce principal officers and not a particular party as the PDP
had done.

But Chinda’s group on Thursday has taken positions in the front
row meant for principal officers from minority parties with the
support of members such as Tajudeen Yusuf from Kogi and Sergius
Ogun from Edo.

Chinda is being joined by Muraina Ajibola (PDP, Oyo) who was
purportedly picked by the party to be deputy minority Whip and two
other unknown faces.

It remains to be seen what will happen when the speaker comes
into the chamber, accompanied by Elumelu and his fellow announced
minority principal officers, as the probable thing would be to ask
Chinda and his group to vacate the seats.

Subscribe ToNairalaw News!