There are indications that the leadership of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may clash with the leadership of the House of Representatives, led by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila over the alleged planned suspension of chairman of the PDP caucus, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, and his team.
The impending clash is coming on the heels of the rumoured planned submission of House Committee on Ethics and Privileges’ report on the investigation of Chinda and his caucus soon.
According to our findings, the PDP is not comfortable with the investigation and is suspecting that the House leadership may influence the outcome to push for suspension of Chinda and his co-caucus leaders.
Recall that the House had, in November 2019, upon a motion brought by Hon. Ben Ibakpa (PDP, Delta) mandated the ethics committee, led by Hon. Kolawole Lawal (APM, Ogun), to investigate allegations of impersonation against Chinda and three others.
Ibakpa had complained to the House that Chinda, alongside Hons. Yakubu Barde (PDP, Kaduna), Chukwuma Onyema (PDP, Anambra) and Muraina Ajibola (PDP, Oyo), were parading themselves as the minority leadership of the chamber, using the appellation of PDP caucus.
Since the recognition by Speaker Gbajabiamila of Hon. Ndudi Elumelu (PDP, Delta) as the minority leader, Hon. Toby Okechukwu as deputy minority leader, Hon. Gideon’s Gwani as minority whip and Hon. Adesegun Adekoya (PDP, Ogun) as deputy minority whip, Chinda and his group have resorted to be addressing themselves as PDP caucus leaders.
Sensing that the quartet may be suspended after the investigation, the PDP, at the weekend, cautioned the speaker “to stop meddling in the internal affairs of the PDP”.
The PDP, through its spokesperson, Kola Ologbodiyan, frowned at the “speaker’s reported needless interference with the choice of the leadership of the PDP caucus in the House of Representatives” leading “to intimidation and threats of sanctions against the “leader” of the PDP caucus in the House, Kingsley Chinda.
He said: “The PDP, without equivocation, reminds Hon. Gbajabiamila that as a party, we reserve the right to form a parliamentary caucus as well as choose the leaders of our caucus, as it obtains in parliaments, all over the world and the House of Representatives under Gbajabiamila, as speaker, cannot be an exception.
“…Our party, therefore, calls on the speaker to respect our choice of leadership for the PDP caucus in the House of Representatives. Our choice has not, in any way, contravened any rules or posed any threat to the statutory running of the House of Representatives.
“Mr. Speaker should, therefore, steer clear and bury the thoughts of punishing the loyal members of our party just because they are obedient to the decisions of the PDP.”
But when contacted yesterday, chairman of the ethics and privileges committee, Hon. Lawal, denied that his committee was under any kind of pressure.
He said due to the long Christmas and New Year holidays, the committee was yet to conclude its investigation, but would soon round off the assignment.
“The investigation is yet to be completed. You know we have been on a long recess. We should be able to conclude soon as we have gone quite far.
“There is no pressure, whatsoever, on my committee on the investigation from any quarter,” he reaffirmed.
Meanwhile, the House has said the PDP does not have the power to impose caucus leaders on members of the party in the parliament.
It advised the party to desist from interfering in the affairs of the legislature henceforth.
Chairman of the House committee on media and public affairs, Hon. Benjamin Kalu (APC, Abia), disclosed this yesterday while reacting to the warning issued by the PDP to the speaker of the House to allow its anointed member, Hon. Chinda (PDP, Rivers) to operate as leader of the House caucus.
Kalu said: “To my knowledge, the interference of any political party in the affairs of the legislative institution is frowned at by our House rules, therefore, PDP national executives have no business determining who is to lead the House caucus of their party, rather they can achieve that through the instrumentality of their members in the House.
“To the satisfaction of the leadership of the House, these PDP members chose Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, the minority leader, to head the leadership of their members in the House, why we are still on it is what bothers me.”
Kalu cautioned political parties not to distract the House.
According to him, “This is the legislative arm of government, distinct in its operations like other arms like the judiciary and the executive, whose independence at all times must be preserved and protected for the interest of Nigerians.
“The PDP national executives should cease from giving directives to the House, but rather be better guided by our House rules in their relationship with the House.
“The PDP caucus of the House of Representatives, among others, elected their minority leader in the person of Hon Ndudi Elumelu, who by the House rules remains the highest office holder of the minority political parties in the House, including the PDP where, according to the INEC register, he is still a member.
“He is as well the highest recognised leadership voice by the House rules in matters affecting the minority parties. Based on this, any minority member of the House acting outside the parameters of the House rules will be cautioned or punished by the House committee on ethics and privilege.
“We encourage all political parties to address their internal issues within the privacy of the party rather than making it a national public show with an attempt to drag the Speaker into it. The people’s parliament belongs to the people, not just the political parties.” (New Telegraph)
