There is serious disagreement between the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Members of the House of Representatives over the leadership of the party’s caucus in the House.
The disagreement manifested Wednesday when a PDP Member from Delta State, Ben Igbakpa called on the House to investigate and bring to book, Kingsley Chinda, Chukwuma Onyema, Umar Barde and Muraina Ajibola for parading themselves as PDP Caucus Leader, Deputy Caucus Leader, Minority Whip and Deputy Minority Whip.
According to Igbakpa, section 60, Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) provides that the House of Representatives shall have powers to regulate its own procedure and this is supported by Order 1 (1) 8. (2) of the Standing Orders of this House, hence the need to probe Chinda and his cohorts.
Chinda (Rivers) was the PDP endorsed candidate for the position of Minority Leader but was allegedly schemed out by the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila in preference for Ndidi Elumelu (PDP, Delta
Igbakpa in a motion argued that “it is common knowledge that on July 3, 2019, the Honourable Speaker, in line with Order 7 Rule 8 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives (which empowers the minority parties to nominate their leaders), announced the Minority Leaders of the House. This was consequently published in the Votes and Proceedings of some date.
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“In spite of this Mr. Speaker, some members of this House, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, Hon. Chukwuma Onyema, Hon. Umar Barde and Hon. Muraina Ajibola are parading themselves as PDP Caucus Leader, Deputy Caucus Leader, Minority Whip and Deputy Minority Whip have been issuing public statements outside the nomenclature of this House, misleading the general public and causing confusion and disaffection in the House of Representatives. This is a gross abuse of our collective and individual privileges.
“This violates Section 24, Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, Cap L.12, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004 as well as extant provisions of the Standing Orders of this House”.
Ruling, Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, referred the matter to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges to investigate and report back to House for further legislative actions.
But in a swift reaction, Chinda insisted that he is the PDP caucus leader in the House with the authority and consent of the party while other minority parties also have their caucuses.
“I have the mandate of the PDP to act as its Leader in the House. Other minority parties are free to have their caucus leadership. I don’t see how that offends rule or law of the House or the constitution.
“PDP is a registered political party and a creation of law and not the Rules of the House. PDP has its leaders in units, communities, amongst students, traders, professionals, and parliamentarians. These leaders are recognised by the party,” he said.
