PDP crisis Archives

The Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has berated the 16 members of the Rivers State of Assembly who announced their defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday, saying their action akin to “defection from APC to APC.” The party, which threatened to institute a legal action to recover the seats, noted that the lawmakers have previously taken a similar step in the past. Calling them “political puppets” who have clogged the wheel of democratic advancement in recent years, the PDP further noted that history would remember them as “enemies of democracy and those who made mockery of the legislature.” The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Ini Ememobong, in a formal reaction in Abuja on Saturday, stated, “We have seen on various media platforms news of the redefection of some members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who, for a second time, announced their defection from our party. “We recall that they had done so earlier and later recanted. These are people whom the world is aware are doing the bidding of their paymaster and demigod. “The members of the Rivers state House of Assembly have by their actions since they assumed office, shown that they are political puppets and a clog in the wheels of democratic progress. “They will go down in history as enemies of democracy and those who made mockery of the legislature. “So the easiest way to describe their action is a defection from APC to APC. “Consequently, the PDP will take legal steps to activate the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria(1999 as amended) to recover the mandate gained under the banner of our party which these people have now ignobly and surreptitiously switched to another platform. “We urge all party members in Rivers State to remain faithful and resolute, as efforts are underway to rebuild the party along the path of inclusiveness, fairness and equity.” The Speaker of the House, Honourable, Martin Amaewhule, had defected along with 15 of his colleagues to the APC, citing the current leadership crisis in the party as the reason for their decision. Addressing the House while defecting, Amaewhule said, “Distinguished colleagues, APC is my new party. I will do all that is needed to be done towards ensuring that the party card of the All Progressives Congress is issued to me in no time. “But as I speak today, I am a member of the All Progressives Congress. I am happy to be a member of APC so that we can join forces with Mr President. Mr President is doing so much for this country.” Although the PDP did not name the ‘paymaster’ and ‘demigod’ it referenced on Saturday, the 16 lawmakers are known loyalists of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, and stood by him all through the bitter fight between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the minister. The political disagreement degenerated to a point President Bola Tinubu had to intervene by declaring an emergency rule in the state, placing Fubara and all democratic structures on suspension for six months. Wike, while reacting to the defection in Abuja, declared support for the lawmakers, saying that defection was allowed when a party could no longer hold itself together. Wike stated, “It’s unfortunate. I have always said everybody has the right to make a choice. The party is fully factionalised. And the requirement of the constitution is that when a party is factionalised, members are allowed to leave.” The minister added, “I am still in the PDP. You will see that it’s not everybody who has left. I believe 16 or 17 of them have left out of 27. We still have a good number, about 10, and we will continue to work together.”

PDP Defection Triggers Legal Action Against Rivers Lawmakers

Miracle Aje7 hours ago7 hours ago02 mins

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it will begin legal steps to recover mandates from Rivers lawmakers involved in a fresh PDP defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The announcement was issued on Saturday in Abuja. National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, called the latest switch a “re-defection.” He accused the lawmakers of acting on…

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