The lawmakers were divided as some supported the party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagun while others opposed his continued stay in office.
The meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caucus in the House of Representatives has ended in a deadlock.
The lawmakers were divided as some supported the party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagun while others opposed his continued stay in office.
The meeting summoned by the leader of the Caucus and House minority leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda was held on Tuesday at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja ahead of Thursday’s National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.
A group of over 60 lawmakers under the auspices of a coalition of opposition lawmakers led by Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere had called on Damagum to resign to pave the way for someone from the North-Central geopolitical zone to take over.
The agenda of the meeting was to pass a vote of confidence on Damagun by lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Nyesom Wike, but it ended in a deadlock.
Chinda said, “We have resolved, firstly, to tell all of us and the world that the PDP caucus in the House of Representatives remains united, indivisible, committed and out to perform her duty as the watchdog on behalf of the Nigerian people.
“The House of Representatives caucus also agreed to call on all party caucuses, the board of trustees, the national executive committee, and the national working committee of the party to embark on reconciliatory measures with the view to resolve all litigation that are pending and that has hindered the party in any way, whatsoever, from having a substantive national chairman.”
The legislator also urged the party members to work harmoniously to position the PDP to take over power in the next elections.
“We call on our leaders, leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party to continue to demonstrate unconditional loyalty to the party and ensure that the party is moved to abide or place where she enjoyed the position of the largest party in Africa and to take back the Aso Villa which is actually supposed to be our birthright,” the minority leader said.
“And so for us, we are going back as we resume the session to commence a strong, virile and purpose-driven opposition to give the people a voice in the parliament.”
Leadership reports that a member of the Hon Ikenga Ugochinyere-led opposition lawmakers’ coalition who revealed the outcome of the meeting on the condition of anonymity said the move to pass a vote of confidence on Damagun failed.
The lawmaker said the party needs total overhaul and reformation, alleging that the PDP national leadership was working hard to hand over the party to the APC.
He said: “We are glad that the plan of the pro-Wike group supporting Damagun fell like a pack of cards as we refused all entreaties to perpetuate illegality and stoking of crisis in the party. Our position remains that Damagun must go for someone from North-central to take over and complete Ayu’s tenure.
“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 that happen.
“We are aside other demands insisting on 100 per cent 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 expos should act as caretaker for 3 months pending the conduct of the 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.”