•Say body unknown
•Caution members against unparliamentary practices
Abuja-The Minority and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, caucus in the House of Representatives has disowned the 60-member coalition of opposition lawmakers in the Green Chamber, saying such a body was unknown to the parliament and that they would not be part of it.
The caucuses were reacting to the briefing Monday by a member, Ikenga Ugochinyere and five others, on behalf of the coalition, wherein they called for the resignation of the acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum.
In a statement signed yesterday in Abuja by all the minority caucus leaders, including Kingsley Chinda, (caucus leader), Ali Madaki, (deputy leader), Ali Isah J.C., (minority whip) and George Ozodinobi, (deputy minority whip), the caucuses said: “Our attention has been drawn to a press release by the group and state unequivocally that the minority caucus and PDP caucus dissociate 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.
Recall that 60 PDP federal lawmakers, under the aegis of the opposition lawmakers coalition, had on Monday threatened to quit the party if the alleged doctored list of local government caretaker committees of the party in Rivers and 10 other states, which was filled with members and loyalists of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was not changed.
The lawmakers also accused the PDP chairman of anti-party activities and alleged that he had plans to hand over the PDP to the All Progressives Congress APC.
They also demanded the resignation of the acting chairman of PDP, Umar Damagum, to pave the way for a north central person to emerge as acting chairman of the party, pending the conduct of the convention as required by the party’s constitution.
They also accused the PDP chairman of a plot to impeach Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara.