Kingsley Chinda resigns as House of Representatives Minority Leader amid political realignment in Rivers State
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Kingsley Chinda, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, has resigned from his position, concluding nearly three years of leading opposition lawmakers in the 10th House. Chinda, who represents the Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency of Rivers State under the Peoples Democratic Party, announced his resignation in a letter dated April 23, 2026, which was read in the House on Tuesday by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. His resignation occurs amidst political realignments in Rivers State and weeks after he participated in the All Progressives Congress screening committee alongside other loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in preparation for the 2027 general elections. Although Chinda has not formally announced his resignation from the PDP, his involvement in the APC screening process has led to speculation about his political future and a possible defection to the ruling party. In his letter, Chinda thanked his colleagues for their support and affirmed his commitment to his legislative duties as a member of the House. Chinda became Minority Leader in June 2023 and played a key role in articulating the opposition's stance on national issues. His resignation is the latest development in the political reshaping of Rivers State, where alliances have significantly shifted. Chinda has been a prominent political associate of Wike, whose influence continues to shape the state's political landscape. The resignation is expected to prompt consultations a
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
President Bola Tinubu praised the Ministry of Finance Incorporated Real Estate Investment Fund MREIF for providing N128bn in affordable mortgages to 1,859 families across 25 states. He highlighted this achievement as evidence that effective policy frameworks can enable home ownership for many Nigerians previously excluded from the market. The beneficiaries, from all six geopolitical zones, received mortgages for up to 20 years at a fixed interest rate of 9.75 percent annually, with a minimum 10 percent equity contribution, terms largely unavailable in Nigeria for nearly six decades. Tinubu noted that this progress by MREIF demonstrates that with appropriate policies, strong institutions, and partnerships, access to home ownership can be expanded, allowing more Nigerians to build wealth through asset ownership. Beyond the disbursed mortgages, MREIF has generated N221bn in total property value and supported the delivery of 475 housing units through off-take guarantee arrangements. The average mortgage beneficiary is 42 years old, reflecting demand among working-age Nigerians who have historically lacked long-term housing finance. MREIF is a N1tn housing finance platform, with a pilot phase of N250bn in concessionary and commercial funding, sponsored by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated and managed by ARM Investment Managers. Its Series 2 commercial issuance holds AAA and AA ratings from Agusto & Co. and GCR Ratings. Tinubu stated that MREIF complements the Renewed Hope Citie
The Norwegian Football Federation NFF announced on Tuesday that it has requested FIFA's ethics committee to investigate the world football governing body's decision to award a peace prize to US President Donald Trump. FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented Trump with the inaugural peace prize during the December 6 draw for the 2026 World Cup. Later that month, human rights organization FairSquare filed a complaint with FIFA's ethics committee, alleging that Infantino violated his duty of neutrality by supporting Trump. FIFA has not disclosed the criteria for the peace award, which was given while Trump and his administration were actively seeking the Nobel Peace Prize. NFF President Lise Klaveness stated that the federation acted independently in approaching FIFA's ethics committee, noting that other federations were aware they could sign on if they wished, but the NFF concluded that pressuring others would be unproductive. Infantino has openly pursued close ties with Trump in anticipation of the June 11-July 19 World Cup, which will be hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Must ReadBritish police are under fire after body camera footage showed officers handcuffing 18-year-old Henry Nowak as he lay dying from stab wounds in December. Nowak, who repeatedly told police "I can't breathe," was stabbed by 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa with a ceremonial knife. Digwa had falsely accused Nowak of racial abuse, and the footage shows police initially accepting Digwa's account and handcuffing Nowak despite his pleas. Nowak's father, Mark, described the police treatment as "shocking," "inhumane and degrading." Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the "awful, shocking case" and noted an independent police complaints watchdog is investigating. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood urged against allowing the incident to divide communities. Main opposition Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch and far-right Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called for changes to police diversity policies, with Farage drawing parallels to the George Floyd case and criticizing a perceived "two-tier culture." Badenoch accused Farage of "deepening divisions" but also criticized "two-tier policing." Elon Musk has offered to fund a private prosecution against the police. Digwa was sentenced to at least 21 years in prison. Digwa's brother and father also face weapons charges, and his mother will be sentenced for assisting an offender. Digwa's family apologized to Nowak's family.
Must ReadMembers of the Nigeria Union of Teachers NUT, Enugu State Chapter, protested at the Enugu State Government House to demand the immediate release of schoolchildren and teachers recently abducted in Oyo State. The teachers, carrying placards, expressed concern over the increasing insecurity in educational institutions nationwide. Comrade Theophilus Odo, Enugu State Chairman of the NUT, stated that schools are becoming high-risk environments for educators and students. He added that the protest followed a directive from the union's national headquarters in Abuja, aiming to compel all levels of government to secure learning institutions. Odo highlighted that abducted teachers and children have not returned, citing similar incidents in Borno, Nassarawa, and Niger states. He appealed to the government to ensure the safety of schools so that teachers and children can attend without fear. The Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Chidi Onyia, received the protesters and assured them that their message would be conveyed to the governor for engagement with federal authorities.