PDP lifts suspension on House Minority Leader, 6 others
By Ayo Fadimu
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lifted the suspension placed on Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr Ndudi Elumelu and six other lawmakers in July 2019.
PDP said this in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, on Thursday in Abuja.
Ologbondiyan named the six lawmakers to include Mr Wole Oke; Ms Lynda Ikpeazu; Mr Anayo Edwin; Mr Gideon Gwani; Mr Toby Okechukwu and Mr Adekoya Addul-majid.
He said that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party lifted the suspension based on the recommendations of various committees constituted on issues relating to their suspension.
“The party charges the lawmakers to be loyal to the party and obey its directives in line with its constitution and vision of its founding fathers.
“In the same vein, the party maintains that it continues to recognise the PDP Caucus of the House of Representatives as led by Rep. Kingsley Chinda,” he said.
He advised all lawmakers elected on the platform of the party to continue to participate in the activities of the Caucus.
Ologbondiyan urged the lawmakers to ensure a stronger and more viable opposition that speak with one voice in the House.
He said that the party had directed its Harmonisation Committee led by Gov. Aminu Tambuwal to meet with PDP members in the House with a view to ensuring harmonious relationship among them.
PDP had in July 2019 suspended the seven lawmakers for anti-party activities, particularly their roles in the selection of the Minority Leadership in the House.
In the meantime, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, as well as other principal minority officers of the PDP in the House, have expressed gratitude to the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for lifting the suspension imposed on them, following the conflict that attended the emergence of Minority officers in the Seventh session of the House of Representatives, last year.
Their expression of gratitude was contained in a Press Statement, signed by Hon. Elumelu himself and made available to the press on Thursday, February 18, 2021.
The statement reads in part, “Today, we are happy that the challenges around the leadership of the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives, which reared its head in our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), since July 2019, has been finally laid to rest. By this, the leadership of our great party has justified the enormous confidence we have always reposed in the creativity of our great party to deal with internal challenges as well as the challenges of this country Therefore, we specially thank the leadership of our great party, particularly the National Working Committee (NWC), our governors, the Board of Trustees, and our party elders and faithful for their understanding and show of leadership when it mattered most.”
The caucus promised to work to reunite the party as the distraction caused by the suspension is now over.
“Working collectively, we shall pull Nigeria from the brink, ensuring that our nation overcomes the present dire circumstances characterised by rudderlessness, poverty, economic woes, unprecedented insecurity, unparalleled divisions, and the steady disarticulation of our hard-won democracy and the fine principles, blessings, and promises it holds for our people.”
The Caucus reiterated its belief that PDP is the hope of the nation and asked for all hands to be on deck.
“The PDP is the only party that gives hope to the nation and we must brace up to the challenge. Duty beckons and we must collectively lead the way.”
