The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia has described the alleged move by the Governor, Alex Otti, to secretly inaugurate the state’s eight Assembly as a coup and rape on democracy.
In press statement by its vice chairman/ state acting publicity secretary, Abraham Amah, the PDP noted that it has reliable information that Governor Otti has issued a secret proclamation for the inauguration of the Assembly.
The party explained that it had raised an alert indicating that the Labour Party was “working desperately” to “truncate” existing rules of the House to enable it influence the choice of presiding officers of the Assembly in the absence of the PDP members who are in the majority in the state legislature.
“True to our reliable information, plots to prevent the PDP members-elect is working as we have information that the 8th Abia House of Assembly has already convened and the inauguration in process,” Amah said on behalf of the PDP.
“What the governor and the Labour Party are doing is tantamount to a coup and a rape on our democracy and everyman of good conscience should condemn these actions.
“A Proclamation for the inauguration of a legislature is not done in secret but publicly to apprise members of the public on the start of the journey of representation by the people they elected.”
Meanwhile security measures at the assembly complex have been significantly strengthened in anticipation of today’s inauguration.
There are 24 elected members from various political parties with the PDP having 11 lawmakers, Labour Party 10, Young Progressive Party 2, and the All Progressive Congress (APC) 1.
