Rep Chinda has disowned the coalition of opposition lawmakers saying the body is unknown to parliament cautioning its members to desist from unparliamentary practices.
The House of Representatives Minority Caucuses, including that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have disowned the opposition coalition led by Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP, Imo) with its acclaimed 60 lawmakers saying such a body is unknown to the parliament.
This was contained in a statement issued and co-signed by all the minority caucus leaders led by Rep Kingsley Chinda, (Caucus leader), Rep Ali Madaki, (deputy leader), Rep Ali Isah J.C., (Minority Whip) and Rep George Ozodinobi, (Deputy Minority Whip).
Reacting to a press conference addressed by Rep Ugochinyere and 59 members under the aegis of the coalition of opposition lawmakers, Rep Chinda declared that:
“Our attention has been drawn to a press release by the group. We state unequivocally that the Minority Caucus and PDP Caucus dissociate themselves from the said press statement.
“The said coalition of lawmakers led by Hon Ikenga Ugochinyere is unknown to the parliament and both caucuses condemn in totality the absurd move, the uncouth and unparliamentary language of the group.
“That the general public should take note that such a coalition is unknown to parliament and their demands do not represent that of the Minority parties.
“The said lawmakers should desist from further misinformation of the public and be more honourable in their conduct.”
OrderPaper recalls that Rep. Ugochinyere while addressing pressmen on Monday in the National Assembly alluded that he and 59 other members of the House of Representatives are in support of the immediate resignation of the Acting National Chairman, Umar İliya Damagum.
This suggests that the political feud between Nyesome Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the executive governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara would not be ending any time soon as opposition lawmakers also accused Wike and others of romancing with the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Damagum is seen in some quarters as a Wike’s ally, a belief that gained momentum when the former Rivers State Governor dared him to sanction him for alleged anti-party activities before, during and after the 2023 elections.
Fubara and Wike have been engaged in a war for the soul of the PDP in the State, a few months after the former succeeded the duo as governor of the oil-producing State.
In a move aimed at taking control of the party structure from Fubara, 27 commissioners loyal to the FCT Minister had in February threatened to commence the impeachment process against the governor. It took the intervention of President Bola Tinubu to broker an unsustainable peace between the two bigwigs.
Meanwhile, Rep Chinda, the Minority Leader who doubles as the leader of the PDP in the House and a core loyalist to the FCT Minister, was conspicuously absent at Monday’s briefing, fueling insinuations that he does not support the decision of his colleagues.
