PDP: 60 Reps Stop Pro-Wike Group’s Confidence Vote, Insist On Damagun Exit  

The political crisis in People’s Democratic Party (PDP) took a new dimension on Tuesday at the just-concluded meeting of the party’s party caucus in the House of Representatives when a move by some lawmakers allegedly loyal to acting national chairman, Umar Damagun, and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, to give Damagun a vote of confidence couldn’t sail through.

The failed plot was as a result of resistance and mobilisation by the group of 60 PDP lawmakers, who are campaigning for reform and rebranding of the PDP and end to many public cases of anti-party activities.

Recall that the group known as G60 led by Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, Hon. Ali Mustapha, and Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, alongside other stakeholders, have been clamouring for reform of the party including the resignation of the acting national chairman to enable North-Central assume the position zoned to them and commencement of disciplinary action against those fighting the party.

The calls triggered chains of action, including the Tuesday’s caucus meeting and other tension-soaked plots in the party and led to more advocacy groups backing the G60 and demanding the exit of Damagun.

It was, however, an anti-climax for the supporters of the acting National Chairman of the PDP and the FCT minister, both being accused by the G60 as loyalists of the All Progressives Congress (APC) when the much-expected solidarity from the PDP Reps Caucus for them failed to see the light of the day.

Majority of PDP federal lawmakers refused to allow the meeting to arise with such a decision. The meeting, which was called by a loyalist of Wike and minority leader of the House, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, and minority whip, Hon. Ali Isa JC, on behalf of all PDP House of Representatives members, was tension-soaked and serious political arguments, which ended without the vote of confidence for Damagun.

A source at the meeting narrated how the G60 stood their ground and insisted that it’s time for PDP to reorganise and end the many intolerable acts of sabotage and anti-party starting with the appointment of an acting chairman from North-Central and commencement of restructuring, rebranding and reformation of the party.

They also called for disciplinary action and punishment for anti-party activities against prominent members who are allegedly fighting the party and working for APC like the FCT minister Wike and his group.

The lawmakers also insisted on 100 per cent formation of 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 caretaker for three months pending the conduct of substantive election.

They warned that any tampering of the list in any state would be resisted and not acceptable.