On Tuesday, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) faced a fresh crisis during the House of Representatives’ caucus meeting. Allegedly, lawmakers aligned with the party’s acting Chairman, Umar Damagun, and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike attempted to express confidence in Damagun, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
The failed plot was as a result of resistance from a group of 60 PDP lawmakers campaigning for reform and rebuilding of the former ruling party that ruled Nigeria since the return to civil rule in 1999 up until 2015.
Recall that the group, known as G60 and led by Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, Hon. Ali Mustapha, and Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, alongside other party stakeholders, had been clamouring for change within the party, including the resignation of the acting chairman to enable the North Central zone assume the position zoned to them and for the commencement of disciplinary action against they claim to be fighting the party.
These triggered a number of reactions including the caucus meeting and other tension soaked plots in the party and led to more advocacy groups backing the G60 and demanding for the exit of Damagun, whom they accused of being a loyalist of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).
READ ALSO: Sharp divide emerges in PDP House caucus meeting on acting chairman Damagun’s tenure
On Tuesday, majority of the PDP federal lawmakers refused to allow the meeting to take such a decision. The meeting was allegedly called by loyalist of Wike, who served as Rivers State governor for eight years under the banner of the PDP, but is currently serving as a federal minister in the APC-led government.
A source at the meeting narrated how the G60 stood their ground and insisted that it is time for the PDP to reorganise and end the alleged intolerable acts of sabotage and anti party activities starting with the appointment of an acting chairman from the North Central and commencement of the reformation of the party.
They also called for disciplinary action to be taken for anti party activities against former and present members allegedly sabotaging the party and working for the APC.
The lawmakers are also insisting on total reformation of the caretaker PDP executive list at all levels without any tampering or inclusion of new names outside the earlier resolution that members of the expiring excos should act as party caretakers for three months pending the conduct of substantive election.
They warned that any tampering in any state will be resisted and would not be acceptable.
