Kingsley Ogundu Chinda, the Rivers State lawmaker who represents the Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, has purportedly emerged as the House of Representatives’ minority leader.
According to reports, Chinda was elected by consensus during a meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) minority caucus on Thursday at a prestigious hotel in Abuja.
Chinada, a favorite of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, defeated Oluwole Oke, who represented Osun State’s Obokun/Oriade federal seat and was chosen by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
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According to Leadership, at the meeting, the PDP caucus unanimously endorsed Chinda, forcing Oke to withdraw from the minority leadership election.
Following the general elections, Atiku and Wike re-entered the fray for the minority leadership seat in the House of Representatives.
According to reports, the two PDP leaders left no stone unturned in their scheme to outwit each other in the run-up to the inauguration of the 10th Assembly.
It was revealed that Atiku and Wike attempted to gain an advantage by mobilizing members of the Green Chamber on the platform of the PDP and other opposition parties.
Remember that Chinda, who was expected to win the same position in the 9th Assembly, was defeated by his colleagues, led by former Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
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Okowa backed Hon Ndudi Elumelu of Delta State’s Aniocha/Oshimili federal constituency, who subsequently won the seat.
In addition, Hon. George Ibezimako Ozodinobi, a member of the House of Representatives elected on the Labour Party (LP) ticket, was elected as the House’s deputy minority leader.
Ozodinobi, who represents Anambra State’s Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunakofia Federal Constituency, was also elected by consensus during a meeting of the LP’s minority caucus held at the National Assembly complex.
Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, the LP’s minority caucus leader and his arch-rival for the office, was also compelled to resign following Ozodinobi’s unequivocal endorsement by his colleagues.
According to reports, Ogene’s ambitions, who represents Anambra State’s Ogbaru federal district, were dashed by the enormous popularity of Ozodinobi, who hails from the same constituency as the LP presidential candidate in the February 25 election, Peter Obi.
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LEADERSHIP informed Friday that the names of Chinda and Ozodinobi have already been given to House leadership.
An opposition federal member who requested anonymity told the newspaper that Chinda and Ozodinobi were submitted to Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abass by the minority caucus on Thursday.
He said: “Meetings of the two major minority caucuses – PDP and LP – were held at different venues in Abuja yesterday (Thursday) where the Reps’ Minority Leader and Deputy Minority Leader were elected through consensus.
“Members elected on the platform of PDP, which is the main opposition party met at Nicon, where Hon. Kingsley Chinda from Rivers State, emerged as the Reps’ minority leader. Hon. Chinda was favoured by former Governor Wike, who has been mobilising human and material resources to ensure his victory. You can recall that ex-Governor Wike also supported Chinda in the 9th Assembly. He lost in the 9th Assembly but he made it this time around.
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“Chinda’s challenger, Hon. Oluwole Oke, who was actively supported by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, was forced to step down when it became clear to him that his colleagues overwhelmingly preferred Hon. Chinda. The members do not want to hear the name of anyone associated with Atiku Abubakar.
“For the LP, which was allowed to produce one of its members for the position of the deputy minority leader, majority of LP’s 35 members favoured the emergence of Ozodinobi, as deputy minority leader of the House of Representatives. The leader of the LP’s caucus, Hon.Ogene, who also showed interest was effortlessly shoved aside as he could not garner reasonable support. Ogene was also forced to withdraw from the race. It was easier for the aspiration of Ozodinobi to sail through easily because he supported the aspiration of the Hon. Speaker, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abass.
“So, the two minority leaders emerged through consensus and their names have been forwarded to Mr Speaker (Abass), who has accepted them.”
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