A threat by some lawmakers in the House of Representatives to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday, April 8, seems to have caused a major division in the lower legislative chamber.
This is even as the minority leaders of green chamber drawn from all opposition parties have disowned the 60 lawmakers who called for the resignation of the PDP acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, for alleged anti-party activities.
The group, Coalition of Opposition Lawmakers, had threatened to quit the PDP if Damagum does not leave office to pave the way for the appointment of a new acting chairman from the north central.
The suspended national chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, hails from the north central zone.
Reacting in a statement issued and co-signed on Tuesday by the Minority Leader and leader of the caucus, Kingsley Chinda; Deputy Minority Leader, Ali Madaki; Minority Whip, Ali Isah and Deputy Minority Whip, George Ozodinobi, the leaders described the Ikenga Ugochinyere-led coalition as a body unknown to the parliament.
The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to a press release by the group and we state unequivocally that the minority caucus and the PDP caucus dissociates themselves from the said press statement.
“The said coalition of lawmakers led by Ikenga Ugochinyere is unknown to the parliament and both caucuses condemn in totality the absurd move, the uncouth and unparliamentary language of the group.
“The general public should take note that such a coalition is unknown to parliament, and their demands do not represent that of the minority parties.
“The said lawmakers should desist from further misinformation of the public and be more honourable in their conduct.”
