NASS LEADERSHIP ELECTION: SITUATION GETS MESSIER AS PDP LEGISLATORS COMPLAIN OF NOT BEEN CARRIED ALONG


NASS LEADERSHIP ELECTION: SITUATION GETS MESSIER AS PDP LEGISLATORS COMPLAIN OF NOT BEEN CARRIED ALONG

By Patrick Walson



Hours after the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) set up a fact-finding committee on the role played by some of its members at the election of the presiding officers of the National Assembly two weeks back, the bubble seems to have finally burst as the names of certain hitherto political heavyweights in the party have been dropped as having been part and parcel of the grand betrayal.



The party in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, disclosed that Sen. Adolphus Wabara, and Prof. Wale Oladipo, would serve as the Committee’s Chairman and Secretary respectively; with Sen. Ibrahim Mantu, Sen. Stella Omu, Mr Austin Opara, Sen. Abdul Ningi, and Mrs Margaret Icheen as members based on the terms of reference of finding out why some of the PDP lawmakers failed to abide by the decision of the party, and whether there was any involvement of the ruling party in the decision taken by the members involved during the said NASS leadership election.



However, a source close to the inaugurated committee has it that in supporting the party’s position during the exercise, the hierarchy of the party met severally and some stakeholders unanimously donated certain unspecified amounts to facilitate the process. The source that does not want its name in print because of the sensitive nature of distrust and betrayal that enveloped the entire process, says figures ranging between USD1.5m and 2.0m were gathered for House of Representatives and the Senate Chambers respectively.



It also said the channels through which these donations were made did not religiously deliver as over 50 percent of the legislators are now complaining that they were not carried along or given  any form of encouragement from the largesse; despite attending some meetings at the instances  of the former Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu and former Minority Leader (HOR), Rt. Hon. Chukwuka Wilfred Onyeama aside others under whose care the donations were entrusted.



Recall that in the build up to the June 11 inauguration of the 9th national assembly, the PDP in a statement issued by its National Secretary, Sen. Umar Tsauri, at the end of a decisive meeting of members of the party’s NWC, leaders, state governors as well as the then senators and members-elect on the platform of the PDP, announced its endorsement of Sen. Ali Ndume for Senate President and Umar Bago as Speaker of House of Representatives, saying the decision was in the best interest of the nation, in line with the party’s determination to deepen democracy, ensure a strong and independent legislature, while advising the then PDP lawmakers-elect to be guided accordingly.



Meanwhile the Chairman, National Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Walid Jibrin, last week dropped a hint that after investigations, that the party would decide on what to do with its senators and members of the House of Representatives who shunned the directive of the party during the voting process.



However, at the end of the exercise, the anointed candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Sen. Ahmed Lawan, emerged the Senate President, while another APC anointed candidate, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, was elected the Speaker of the House of Representatives.


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