Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, caucus leader of the APP in the House of Representatives, has declared his intention to contest for the position of Minority Leader, citing a loss of confidence in the current officeholder, Hon. Kingsley Chinda.
Ugochinyere alleged that Chinda has secretly aligned with the ruling party, claiming intelligence reports suggest the minority leader has purchased a governorship nomination form under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“I have been reliably informed that Hon. OK Chinda has allegedly purchased the APC governorship form following the realization by him and his political ally that the PDP platform is no longer viable for their ambitions,” he stated.
He called on Chinda to publicly clarify the allegation, stressing that his own consultation process for the minority leadership position would commence immediately if the information proves accurate.
“Dear Hon. Chinda, I urge you to confirm this development. If true, it would be honourable for you to step down this evening to avoid an impending impeachment, for which the required simple majority has already been secured,” Ugochinyere said.
Beyond the defection allegation, the lawmaker accused Chinda of failing to represent opposition interests effectively, alleging that his leadership has been compromised by loyalty to external political figures.
“With or without the APC form issue, the majority of opposition lawmakers have lost confidence in your leadership. You have consistently prioritised personal and allied interests over the collective mandate of the opposition,” he added.
Ugochinyere further accused Chinda and his allies of playing a significant role in weakening opposition politics in Nigeria.
“You and your political leader have contributed immensely to the erosion of opposition strength in this country. Our delay in acting decisively has only prolonged your stay in an office you were never fully committed to,” he said.
He concluded with a stern warning, urging Chinda to take the “honourable path” by resigning voluntarily to avoid what he described as an imminent removal from office.
“Time is up, sir. Stepping down voluntarily remains your only opportunity to preserve your dignity before the inevitable occurs,” Ugochinyere stated.
