The caucus of the main opposition
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denied media reports that it directed its
members to support any speakership candidate.
In a statement on Wednesday by
the house minority leader, Leo Ogor, the lawmaker described it as the handwork
of propagandists who are mischievously twisting a goodwill message to imply
support for a speakership aspirant.
Mr Ogor was alleged to have said
the caucus is not against its members working with speakership aspirants of the
All Progressives Congress (APC).
While refuting the reports, Mr
Ogor emphasised that the caucus has directed its members to participate in
meetings and strategy sessions of the APC speakership aspirants. However, it
never directed them to consider voting for any of the aspirants.
According to the minority leader,
even though ‘some confused elements in the ruling party’ are claiming to be
‘talking to one part of the PDP House caucus before talking to the other’, the
PDP House caucus remains resolutely united, with decisive plans for
strengthening democratic growth while patriotically exerting influence on the
Speakership election process.
He stated that the PDP’s national
leadership and members of the PDP caucus will consider the national interest
and take a collective decision on who to vote for on June 11 when the House is
scheduled to be inaugurated.
“In the Eid-el-Fitri message
issued on Tuesday, we felicitated with all our Muslim brothers and sisters
across Nigeria, we emphasised the significance of worthy virtues and also
stated that our members may participate in meetings, strategy sessions and
other activities of Speakership aspirants so as to come back to the caucus with
convincing assessments.
“While some publications
including PUNCH newspaper have disseminated accurate and objective report, few
others fabricated a completely new angle with one even using a deliberately
fictitious and grossly erroneous headline in a manner that suggests being used
for the ruling party’s usual misinformation and propaganda.
“Contrary to what has been
sensationally reported by some, at no time did we give our members a directive
to vote for any APC speakership aspirant; I hereby categorically dissociate
myself and the PDP House Caucus from the false comments being attributed to us
as participation in meetings should not be deliberately misinterpreted as a
directive on voting,” Mr Ogor stated.
According to Mr Ogor, the PDP
House Caucus has remained solidly united, even as it continues to grant
audience to various speakership aspirants.
“Of the three arms of government,
the legislature is the first when it comes to the ethos and praxis of
democracy; hence, our willingness to further facilitate democratic values and
legislative camaraderie – values that are lacking in the ruling party – up till
that day when our great party, the PDP, will take a decision.
“Indeed, on May 22 and again, on
June 4, all the House speakership aspirants of note came one after another, to
meet and discuss their plans with the leadership of the PDP House Caucus.
“While we have taken the decision
to enable all individual members to interact and exchange perspectives, the PDP
House Caucus shall – with the input and advice of our party’s national
leadership – take a final decision soon, in the interest of Nigeria and we will
communicate our formal position to the public.
“Our unflinching commitment to
the principles and ethos of democracy, our keenness for dialogue and our
willingness to make sacrifice for the national interest should not be unduly
exaggerated as a tacit endorsement or assurance of vote for any candidate of
the ruling party,” he stated.
The APC leadership recently
declared support for the current house leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, to become the
next speaker. The party is also in support of Ahmed Lawan as the next Senate
president.
The adoption of Messrs
Gbajabiamila and Lawan was condemned by some APC lawmakers including Borno
senator, Ali Ndume, who also seeks to be the Senate president.
Mr Ndume has vowed to continue
with his ambition, saying he enjoys the support of many elected APC senators.
There are five other members of
the House of Representatives who will be challenging Mr Gbajabiamila at the
polls.
Mr Gbajabiamila is, however,
considered the leading candidate.
The APC enjoys a clear majority
in the incoming House of Representatives, winning over 200 of the 360 seats.
The APC is expected to produce
the speaker, but as it happened in 2015, a different candidate other than the
one endorsed by the party leadership may contest the election.
While both Messrs Lawan and
Gbajabiamila were endorsed by the party for the positions in 2015, Bukola
Saraki and Yakubu Dogara emerged as the Senate President and Speaker of the
House, respectively.
The two winners later defected
from the APC to the PDP.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com