The minority leaders of the House of Representatives, representing all opposition parties, have disowned 60 lawmakers who called for the resignation of the Peoples Democratic Party’s acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, for alleged anti-party activities.
The Coalition of Opposition Lawmakers threatened to quit the PDP if Damagum did not step down to allow the appointment of a new acting chairman from the North Central zone, which is the zone of the suspended National Chairman of the party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.
However, the minority leaders of the House of Representatives have disowned the 60 parliamentarians, stating that the Ikenga Ugochinyere-led coalition is not recognized by the parliament.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, Deputy Minority Leader, Ali Madaki, Minority Whip, Ali Isah and Deputy Minority Whip, George Ozodinobi, described the coalition as an unknown body to the parliament.
The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to a press release by the group and we state unequivocally that the minority caucus and the PDP caucus dissociates 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.”
The PUNCH had reported that the absence of Chinda (at Monday’s briefing), a known ally of the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike who is engaged in a war for the soul of Rivers State with Governor Siminalaiye Fubara, was a pointer that rift is far from over.
