…Wants all litigation withdrawn for reconciliation

April 16, 2024

Ameeting of the House of Representatives caucus of the main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) failed to take a definite position on the national chairmanship of the party on Tuesday, April 16. 

The Nation gathered that one of th agenda of the meeting was to take a position of the national chairman by passing a vote of confidence on the acting national chairman, Umar Damagun.

But the lawmakers rose from the meeting after about two hours to ask members with cases in court that has prevented the emergence of a substantive national chairman to withdraw the cases and allow for total reconciliation. 

The meeting which summoned by the leader of the caucus and House minority leader, Kingsley Chinda, was initially billed to hold at  House Committee Room 301, but later took place at House Committee room 414.

Sources at the meeting said the main agenda of the pre-NEC meeting was to rally lawmakers believed believed to be loyal to the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, to pass a vote of confidence on Damagun, but the plan failed 

It was gathered that the group of 60 lawmakers who initially asked Damagun to resign as acting national chairman had planned to immediately disowned the position of the caucus if they go ahead to pass a vote of confidence on Damagun. 

It was gathered that at the meeting, the group of 60 lawmakers under the auspices of opposition lawmakers coalition maintained their ground that the acting chairman should resign for someone from the north-central zone. 

But addressing journalists after the meeting, leader of the caucus, Kingsley Chinda, said the caucus agreed to asked all caucuses of the party and other stakeholders to immediately withdraw all cases pending in court that has hindered the party from producing a substantive national chairman. 

The caucus also gave the federal government a three months ultimatum to take measures to address and end the currently insecurity in the country, failure which it will mobilise Nigerians to take their security in their hands. 

Chinda who is also the Minority Leader of the House said the party leadership should embark on an immediate reconciliation measure to ensure that the party takes back it’s position in the country. 

Chinda said: “We have just concluded  the third meeting of the People’s Democratic Party caucus  in the 10th Assembly and have resolved to tell all of us and the world that we are one and remained United, indivisible, committed  and out to perform her duty as the watchdog on behalf of the Nigerian people.

“In the same vein, we x-rayed the security situation in the country and resolved that we can no longer accept the situation where Nigeria is today tagged one life, one minute silence. 

“The government is therefore called upon to immediately take steps to ensure that the security situation in the country is normalised and the caucus has also given a three month ultimatum for government to normalise the security situation in our country. 

“After three months, the caucus will take further steps to sensitise and mobilise Nigerians to perhaps take their security in their hands. 

“The House caucus also agreed to call on all party caucuses, the Board of Trustees, National Executive Committee and the National Working Committee of the party to embark on reconciliation measures with a view to resolving all litigation that are pending and has hindered the party in any way whatsoever from having a substantive national chairman. 

“We call on our leaders in the PDP to continue to demonstrate unconditional loyalty to the party and ensure that the party reclaim her pride of place where she enjoyes the position of the largest party in Africa and to take back the Aso Villa which actually supposed to be our birth right. 

“For us, we are going back as we resume the session to commence a strong, virile and purpose driven opposition to give the people a voice in the parliament. 

“We also called on the Senate Leadership to please take steps to recall our colleague and senior brother, a veteran politician, a parliamentarian per excellence, Abdul Ningi.”