The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice JO Abdulmalik, has halted a planned move by some members of the Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives to remove Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers) from his position as Minority Leader.
The removal plot stems from his alleged association with the Minister of the FCT, Nyelsom Wike.
In an order of interim injunction, the court directed all parties in the suit filed on Chinda’s behalf by Dr. JY Musa (SAN) to “maintain status quo” pending the determination of the substantive suit.
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Chinda is seeking a declaration that the move to remove him based on his association with Wike (who is also a member of the Peoples Democratic Party), is a clear violation of his Right to Freedom of Association guaranteed by Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution.
He also argues that the defendants “lack the vires” to remove him arbitrarily without full compliance with the due process outlined in Order 7 Rule 14 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives, which requires the change to be made by the majority of the members of the minority parties themselves, and after due notice to the House.
Chinda stressed that the House was on break, and that some minority parties, primarily the Peoples Democratic Party, have been holding “clandestine meetings” to have him removed before resumption.
He specifically averred that the decision to remove him, taken by the 6th–12th Defendants on September 6, 2025, was clearly based on his relationship with the FCT Minister.
The Judge granted the interim order to ensure all parties “have equal playing ground” under Section 36 (1) of the 1999 Constitution and “to protect the res” (the subject matter of the dispute).
The order specifically mandated that “ALL the concerned parties listed in this application SHALL maintain STATUS QUO in respect of the res prayed on the face of the Motion Ex-Parte pending the hearing and determination on its MERIT of the Motion on Notice with Suit No:— FHC/ABJ/CS/1936/2025 filed on 16th September 2025.”
The defendants in the suit include the National Assembly, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and several political parties that constitute the minority caucus: the Peoples Democratic Party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party, the Labour Party, All Progressive Grand Alliance, Social Democratic Party, Africa Democratic Party, and the Young Progressive Party.
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