…Urge Senate To Recall Senator Ningi
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Caucus in the House of Representatives has called on the party leadership to beging reconciliation move to address issues that have destabilise the party.
The lawmakers made the call after a meeting on Tuesday convened by the leader of the Caucus, House Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda.
The lawmakers were reportedly split between the groups supporting and opposing Umar Damgun, the party’s acting National Chairman.
It was learnt that, an attempt to pass a vote of confidence on Damagun was rejected by by Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere (PDP, Imo).
The group, known as the Opposition lawmakers coalition reportedly demanded Damagun’s resignation and the appointment of a person from the North-central as acting chairman.
They also called for the expulsion of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and others from the party over their alleged involved in anti-party activities.
The group reportedly stated, “We call for immediate resignation of Umar Iliya Damagun as Ag National Chairman of PDP for anti-party activities and allow North central produce the acting chairman as clearly stated in the PDP constitution or watch us reconsider our membership of the party in the months ahead if the right thing is not done.
“The NEC of the Party should ensure that the list of party Caretaker Committees in Rivers State and all other 10 states tampered by Damagun and his APC friends are reversed and announced as originally agreed, that is by extension of the tenures of the outgoing leadership.
“Any tampering in any state will be resisted and not acceptable. They should also ensure that disciplinary action and punishment are meted out on FCT minister Wike and his cohorts for anti party activities”.
It could be recalled that, the Opposition Group lawmakers has at an earlier briefing threatened to leave the party if the alleged doctored list of Caretaker Committees in several states, allegedly filled with APC members, was not nullified.
They emphasized the need for adherence to the party’s constitution, which stipulates a North-central figure as acting chairman until a convention is held.
The coalition expressed discontent with the influence of other political parties on PDP’s decisions and urged for immediate corrective actions to maintain party integrity.
The Opposition lawmakers coalition remained steadfast in their stance for Damagun’s removal and a transparent caretaker executive list formation.
They added, “Our Party needs total overhaul and reformation. We currently have in the PDP a national leadership that is in bed with the APC and is working extremely hard to hand over the party to the APC. This is quite shameful disheartening. But we won’t fold our hands and let gat happen.
“We are aside other demands insisting on 100 percent formation of caretaker PDP executive list at all levels without any tampering or inclusion of new names outside the earlier resolution that members of the expiring excos should act as caretaker for 3 months pending the conduct of substantive election. Our party will not be overtaken by APC, we are here to serve the Nigerian people not to the whims and caprices of some selfish politicians”.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, the Minority Leader Chinda emphasized the unity and commitment of the PDP caucus in fulfilling its role as a watchdog for the Nigerian people.
The caucus lamented the deteriorating country’s security challenges and called for immediate action by the government, to normalize the situation within three months.
It added, “In the same vein, we x-rayed the security situation in the country and resolved that we can no longer accept the situation where Nigeria is today tagged one life, one minute silence.
“The government is therefore called upon to immediately take steps to ensure that the security situation in the country is normalised and the caucus has also given a three month ultimatum for government to normalise the security situation in our country.
“After three months, the caucus will take further steps to sensitise and mobilise Nigerians to perhaps take their security in their hands”.
The Caucus urged party leaders to engage in reconciliation efforts to resolve internal disputes hindering the appointment of a substantive national Chairman.
Rep. Chinda said, “”We have just concluded the third meeting of the People’s Democratic Party caucus in the 10th Assembly and have resolved to tell all of us and the world that we are United and we are one and remained United, indivisible, committed and out to perform her duty as the watchdog on behalf of the Nigerian people”.
The caucus reaffirmed its loyalty to the party and its goal of regaining prominence as Africa’s largest party.
The PDP caucus states that, it is poised to resume parliamentary duties with a focus on providing a strong opposition voice.
They also called on the Senate Leadership to recall Abdul Ningi who was suspended by the Senate over Budget Padding allegations.