The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, has stepped down from his position as leader of the minority caucus, ending a tenure that lasted nearly three years in the 10th House of Representatives.
Chinda, who represents Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency in Rivers State under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), formally communicated his resignation in a letter dated April 23, 2026. The letter was read during Tuesday’s plenary session by Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas.
The resignation comes against the backdrop of ongoing political developments in Rivers State and follows Chinda’s appearance before the screening committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) alongside several associates of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as political stakeholders begin positioning ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Although the lawmaker has not officially announced his departure from the PDP, his participation in the APC screening exercise has intensified speculation that he may be preparing to join the ruling party in the near future.
In his resignation letter addressed to the Speaker, Chinda expressed gratitude to members of the House for the support and cooperation extended to him during his time as Minority Leader.
“It has been a profound honour and privilege to serve in this capacity, representing the collective interest of the minority caucus and contributing to the legislative work of the House. I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked under your leadership and alongside distinguished colleagues in advancing democratic governance and national development,” he wrote.
The lawmaker also emphasized that his decision to relinquish the leadership position would not affect his commitment to legislative duties and parliamentary service.
“I remain fully committed to my duties as a member of the House and will continue to support the work of the legislature in every way possible. Please accept the assurances of my high esteem and continued regards,” the letter added.
Chinda was elected Minority Leader during the inauguration of the 10th House in June 2023 after consultations among opposition parties. The PDP, which held the largest number of seats among opposition parties in the chamber at the time, nominated him for the position.
During his tenure, he served as one of the most prominent voices of the opposition in the National Assembly, frequently articulating minority positions on major national issues. These included electoral reforms, constitutional amendment proposals, economic policy debates, governance matters, and legislative oversight activities.
His resignation marks another significant development in the evolving political landscape of Rivers State, where alliances and loyalties have continued to shift in recent years.
Chinda has long been regarded as one of the key political allies of Wike, whose influence remains substantial in Rivers politics despite his current role in the Federal Government.
The vacancy created by Chinda’s resignation is expected to prompt consultations among opposition lawmakers regarding the selection of a new Minority Leader.
Traditionally, the position is filled through nominations by the minority party with the largest number of seats in the House, after which the decision is formally communicated to the House leadership.
With the 2027 elections drawing closer and political alignments becoming increasingly fluid, opposition parties are expected to move quickly to preserve unity within the minority caucus and maintain a coordinated legislative front in the House of Representatives.
