PDP splits further 83 lawmakers support Atiku
The crisis in the PDP is growing wider with 83 members of the National Assembly on platform of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, declared support for the Atiku faction of the party. The NASS members include 57 members of the House of Representatives and 26 Senators.
In a statement by the 57 House of Representatives members on Tuesday said, “We, the members of the House of Representatives under the platform of the New PDP, hereby congratulate our leaders on the emergence of the new party. While commending former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, seven governors and some chieftains of the party who stormed out of Eagles Square, venue of Saturday’s Special National convention of the party, the lawmakers stated that “we therefore, pledge our unfettered loyalty to the Barage-led PDP National Executive.”
NagerianEcho gathered from several sources with the National Assembly that Speaker of the House, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, and the other principal officers presently in South Africa, may have given their support the new faction simply because they have not made any statement to condemn the action.
The lawmakers further stated in their letter that “Although a sizeable number of our members who could not append their signatures because of their unavailability in the country will do so immediately on arrival. We, the under signed salute and appreciate the courage, sacrifice, resilience and patriotism of our leaders namely: former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar GCON, and the Governors of Kano State, Dr. Rabiu MusaKwankwaso, Aliyu Wammako, (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Abdul Fattah Ahmed (Kwara), and Chibuike Amaechi(Rivers), and other well-meaning and eminent Nigerians for leading the way for the emergence of the New PDP. “We are also using this opportunity to condemn in strong terms attempts by some agents of the Federal Government to use state apparatus to witch-hunt some of these patriots for taking this bold and courageous step.
“As members of the House of Representatives, we call on the security agencies and other anti-graft bodies to be professional in their activities and not to allow themselves to be used by anybody, no matter how highly placed, for their political ambitions. Remember how you want history to judge your tenures.We won’t hesitate however to use all instruments of the law within our powers as provided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), to stop this and bring anybody found wanting to book.”
“We congratulate them and wish them the very best as they steer the affairs of our party to provide a level playing-field for all Nigerians.”