The troubleshooting effort to ensure that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the House of Representatives closed ranks, ahead of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party scheduled to hold on Thursday, was thwarted on Tuesday as the meeting ended in deadlock.
Checks revealed that a group of 60 lawmakers under the auspices of opposition lawmakers led by a member representing Ideato Federal constituency, Hon. Imo Ugochinyere recently demanded the resignation of the Acting Chairman of PDP, Umar Damagun to pave way for a North central person to emerge as acting chairman of the party pending the conduct of convention as required by the party’s constitution.
However, in a counter move, the PDP caucus in the House, dissociated itself from the coalition of opposition lawmakers, saying the group was unknown to the parliament.
At a meeting on Tuesday which was summoned by the leader of the Caucus and House Minority leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, both factions were sharply divided as they could not reach a middle ground.
A member of the Ugochinyere faction who pleaded anonymity revealed that the move to pass a vote of confidence on Damagun at the meeting failed.
He stated: “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 and disheartening. But we won’t fold our hands and let that 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.”
