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Tag: PDP

  • PDP: Zoning good in Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, not in Rivers

    I begin by recalling that Sections 7.1(g) and 7.3(c) of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, respectively, talk about “promoting of egalitarian society founded on freedom, equality and justice” and “adherence to the policy of the rotation and zoning of party and public elective offices in pursuance of the principle of equity, justice and fairness.” They are emphatic on the need to rotate key political offices among the diverse peoples and zones at the national, state and local government levels.

    In Bauchi State, where the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, comes from, the party zoned out aspirants from the southern senatorial district from contesting the governorship position in 2015. The same was witnessed in Akwa Ibom, the home state of the current Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Godswill Akpabio. In its wisdom, the party entrenched this important principle of zoning to ensure that justice, equity and fairness prevail.

    But in Rivers State, this important principle is suffering and it’s threatening to tear the party apart. Former Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, is being empowered and encouraged by the First family in perpetrating the inequity that Rivers people are witnessing, as I write this. Dame Patience Jonathan is getting notorious and infamous for her meddlesomeness in the affairs of some states, especially Rivers and Bayelsa. She must have known of the charter between upland and riverine sections of Rivers State. She is allowing the ambition of one man (Wike), to cost PDP, the party that her husband leads, to be thrashed in the 2015 elections. It is now becoming clearer to Rivers people that Dame Jonathan is the engine room from where Wike draws his power and arrogance. She is also rumoured to be providing most of the funds that Wike is throwing about.

    Nevertheless, the attempt by the First Lady and PDP to impose Wike as the PDP flag bearer for the 2015 governorship position in the state will not fly and will not secure victory for the party. I know that many decent Ikwerre people are not in support of another Ikwerre taking over from the incumbent Ikwerre governor in May 2015.

    – Onyeike Agomuo

    Port Harcourt, Rivers State

  • PDP seeks investigation into NASS fracas

    PDP seeks investigation into NASS fracas

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for full investigation into Thursday’s invasion of the National Assembly by armed policemen and other security operatives.

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal and other lawmakers were tear gassed by the police, even as a number of the legislators had to scale the fence to gain access to the parliament building.

    Many are of the opinion that the move was targeted at Tambuwal, allegedly by the Presidency and the ruling PDP.

    However, the PDP, in a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, called on the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, to institute full enquiry to unravel the circumstances and facts surrounding the incident.

    The party gave Abba 72 hours to put the facts on the table.

    The statement said: “The sanctity of the National Assembly as an arm of government and citadel of democracy must be upheld at all times. The matter should not be shrouded in controversy, sinister plots and mundane accusations.

    “Whilst we acknowledge that due to the security challenges in the country, the security agencies are within their constitutional powers to search individuals and ensure that only responsible and duly accredited persons gain entrance into the National Assembly complex, we wish to state in strongest possible terms that the PDP is fully with the President in not condoning any act that might indicate that the police went beyond their bounds in the incident.

    “The PDP is known for its unwavering stand in upholding the tenets of democracy. Our stand for justice, fairness, and equity at all times remains undiluted. In the same vein, President Goodluck Jonathan has been very humble and forthright in upholding these principles and rights of citizens. He has instituted free, fair and credible elections and remains unwavering that his ambition does not worth the blood of any Nigerian.

    “We therefore believe that there is no need to shroud the development in controversy. In this regard, we call for a full investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident within the next 72 hours. Nigerians deserve to know the truth at all times.”

     

  • Seven PDP lawmakers ‘sack’ Ekiti Speaker

    Seven PDP lawmakers ‘sack’ Ekiti Speaker

    •Deputy Speaker: We ‘ll fight according to •’Fayose not aware’
    •’New ‘speaker’ breaks into Omirin’s lodge •Pro-Fayose protesters on Ado streets

    Seven Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in the Ekiti State House of Assembly “impeached” yesterday Adewale Omirin as the Speaker.

    They immediately installed Dele Olugbemi (Ikole 2), the ‘Speaker Protempore’.

    The Deputy Speaker, Tunji Orisalade, was removed and replaced with a woman lawmaker, Abeni Olayinka (Ado Constituency 2).

    The Minority Leader, Samuel Ajibola, said: “Omirin and his deputy have absconded without official notice and the business of the House cannot grind to a halt as government is a continuum.

    “Omirin’s offences include revealing official secret, misappropriation of Assembly funds and signing of bonds with the past executive without the knowledge of other lawmakers.”

    On the number of PDP lawmakers who executed the impeachment, 10 of them were sighted by reporters at the Assembly while the session lasted, but only six joined the new speaker to address a briefing at the speaker’s “new office”.

    Although there was no considerable police presence at yesterday’s proceeding, reporters were barred by officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) from the session.

    It took some time for a few of them (the reporters) to gain entry into the gallery where the new “speaker” was seen to have donned the speaker’s traditional outfit, presiding over the session.

    The sitting, which lasted barely 45 minutes, saw the lawmakers repealing the law establishing the State Peace Corps established by former Governor Kayode Fayemi.

    The lawmakers described the Corps as a needless burden on the state’s finances.

    They equally amended the state logo and changed the state’s slogan of “Land of Honour” favoured by the last administration to “Fountain of Knowledge”.

    Olugbemi pledged to work for better understanding and harmonious relationship between the Executive and Legislative, adding that he would continue to respect the deposed speaker and his deputy.

    His words: “You can see we are seven here. Others for now just want to remain anonymous.

    “The event that brought me into office is historic. Whatever that might have transpired is democracy at play. There was a change in the leadership at the executive level, so the only thing that is constant is change.”

    The new “speaker” absolved the governor of complicity in Omirin’s ordeal, saying “my emergence as Speaker was a prerogative of the lawmakers. So it has no executive influence”.

    At 8am, some concerned youths, led by Bello Ganiyu-Akande, marched on the Assembly, calling for Omirin’s removal, saying the governor must be given the freedom to rule without fears.

    Ganiyu-Akande described the lawmakers seen as opposed to Fayose as “enemies of the state”, who should be denied an opportunity to “actualise their alleged sinister intention”.

    Pro-PDP protesters overran other sections of the capital, carrying placards and condemning the 19 APC lawmakers for opposing “our benefactor”, “our saviour, redeemer and benefactor”.

    Their placards read: “Governor Fayose is our choice”;  “Ekiti has decided”; “Osokomole is our choice”; “Time to reason in Ekiti”; “No going back on impeachment”, and many others.

    The governor’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Idowu Adelusi, said the governor had no hands in the impeachment.

    His words: “It is to link the executive with what is happening in the legislative arm.

    “There is separation of powers among all tiers of government and Governor Fayose is not a member of the Assembly.

    “For those having any doubt about the identity of the lawmakers, I believe the best place to find out is from the Assembly. Anybody interested in that can contact the Clerk of the Assembly.

    “It is double speak for critics to attempt to drag the governor into an affair that has nothing to do with him.”

    It was gathered that Olugbemi reportedly broken into the Speaker’s Lodge being occupied by Speaker Omirin.

    He was accompanied by the Clerk, Tola Esan, and some thugs.

  • The unwarranted war against the parliament

    The unwarranted war against the parliament

    IN democracy, the legislature is the most important organ of government, which has its taproots at the grassroots. Its sheer representativeness and diversity, as well as the legitimacy of its actions as the watchdog of the Executive, accord form, content and predictability to democratic principle. And to that extent, the legislature is the anchor of popular rule.

    However, in recent times, the parliament has come under strains. The hand of the Executive is heavy on the repressed legislative arm. The evidence of the impunity against the parliament underscores the fact that the country is yet to transit from civil rule to democracy.

    In 15 years of democratic fragility, the parliament has suffered from self-inflicted pains and over-bearing attitude of the executive, which is always bent on mounting pressure on legislators to achieve a pre-determined clandestine motive.

    In Edo State, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of orchestrating crisis in the House of Assembly. There are two speakers in the House fighting for the soul of its leadership. There are also parallel chambers passing resolutions to the executive.

    In Rivers State, hell was let loose when members engaged in a free-for-all fight on the floor. Some legislators were injured. Two Speakers emerged. One was recognised by the APC. The factional Speaker was recognised by the PDP. The chamber has been relocated to the Government House. There is no end in sight to the crisis.

    Ekiti House of Assembly was at peace for three and half years. But following the change of guard in the Executive, the tranquility disappeared. Yesterday, seven legislators invaded the chamber, sacking the Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin; his deputy, Chief Adedeji Orisalade; and the Minority Leader, Churchill Adedipe.

    A new Speaker was elected by seven of 26 members. No quorum was formed. The 19 APC members have decried the foul play. Before the crisis escalated, Governor Ayo Fayose withdrew the Speaker’s aides. The House account was equally frozen.

    The Speaker alleged that electricity to his official residence was cut. Now, the legislators, who have alleged threats to their lives, are yet to resume sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    But the war against the legislature reached a peak yesterday, when House of Representatives members were denied access to the Lower Chamber by anti-riot policemen who tear-gassed the Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, and his colleagues.

    To prevent the breakdown of law and order, the Chairman of the National Assembly, Senate President David Mark, closed down the National Assembly till next week.

  • PDP calls for state of emergency in Nasarawa

    PDP calls for state of emergency in Nasarawa

    The Nasarawa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the imposition of a state of emergency, following renewed violence in the state.

    The party also claimed that there was no ethnic war between the Eggon and Fulani/Alago, as claimed.

    The state chapter, under the aegis of the Stakeholders’ of PDP in Nasarawa State, also accused the state government of orchestrating the violence.

    It justified the call for the declaration of a state of emergency in the state, adding that order nearly vanished from Nasarawa and anarchy increasingly became the norm.

    Nasarawa PDP Chairman, Yunana Ilya, who addressed reporters in Abuja with other political bigwigs from on the “worsening security situation” in the state, noted that many people were rendered homeless.

    Ilya alleged that attacks were carried out by mercenaries, who he described as professional terrorists.

    He said: “All the havoc committed in the state are more grievous than what happened in Yobe, Adamawa and Borno states, where the state of emergency was declared. Therefore, calling for the deceleration of state of emergency in Nasarawa State would not out of place.”

    Ilya added: “The security situation in Nasarawa State has worsened, following the importation of large number mercenaries, who have embarked on the destruction of villages, towns and communities in Nasarawa South and North senatorial zones.”

    The party urged the Federal Government to stop the spread of lawlessnss in Nasarawa State, adding that it might affect the security of other states in the Northcentral and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

     

  • PDP: Why is Rivers different from A/Ibom and Bauchi?

    PDP: Why is Rivers different from A/Ibom and Bauchi?

    SIR: I begin by recalling that Sections 7.1(g) and 7.3(c) of the constitution of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, respectively, talk about “promoting of egalitarian society founded on freedom, equality and justice” and “adherence to the policy of the rotation and zoning of party and public elective offices in pursuance of the principle of equity, justice and fairness”. They are emphatic on the need to rotate key political offices among the diverse peoples and zones at the national, state and local government levels.

    In Bauchi State, where the national chairman of PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu comes from, the party zoned out aspirants from the southern senatorial district of the state from contesting the governorship position in 2015. The same phenomenon was witnessed in Akwa Ibom, home state of the current chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Godswill Obot Akpabio. In its wisdom, the party entrenched this important principle of zoning to ensure that justice, equity and fairness prevail.

    But in Rivers State, this important principle is suffering in impact, threatening to tear the party in the state apart. Former Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, is being empowered and encouraged by Nigeria’s First family to perpetrate inequity. It is now becoming clearer to Rivers people that Dame Jonathan is the engine room from where Wike draws his power and arrogance. She is also rumoured to be providing most of the funds that Wike is throwing about.

    The attempt by the First Lady and PDP to impose Wike as PDP flag bearer for the 2015 governorship position in the state will not fly and will not secure victory for the PDP. I know that many decent Ikwerre people are not in support of another Ikwerre taking over from the incumbent Ikwerre governor in May 2015.

    Let the other section of our state be supported to go for the position. After all, they have such solid technocrats/politicians as Engr. Beks Dagogo-Jack, Prince Tonye Princewill, Dumo Lulu Briggs, Senator Maeba and Samson Ngaribara, among others, who are worthy sons of our state. How the permutation and political calculations by Dame Jonathan and Wike would work out can easily be imagined: total disaster.

    • Onyeike Agomuo

    26 Lancelot Avenue, off Sani Abacha Road,

    Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

  • Pdp caucus plots to remove Ekiti Speaker

    Pdp caucus plots to remove Ekiti Speaker

    •apc: police are culpable• ’It’s not true’

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the Ekiti State House of Assembly, backed by Governor Ayo Fayose, is  strategising to remove the Speaker, Dr.Adewale Omirin, The Nation gathered yesterday.

    This followed the controversial “sitting” by seven PDP lawmakers in the House of Assembly  to “screen” and “clear” three commissioner-nominees.

    The seven PDP lawmakers and three unidentified persons, who posed as lawmakers, also “ratified” Fayose’s list of appointees for chairman and members of caretaker committees for the 16 local governments.

    The commissioner-nominees and caretakers were sworn in on Monday by Fayose, few minutes after being “cleared”.

    A member of the PDP caucus,  Adeyinka Adeloye, said the lawmakers have the constitutional power to impeach the Speaker and change the House leadership to “reflect the present realities in the state”.

    Speaking in an exclusive chat with The Nation yesterday, Adeloye who represents Ikole 1 Constituency, said the lawmakers were constitutionally empowered to “change, arrange, re-arrange, align and realign the leadership of the Assembly”.

    Adeloye, who was one of the six All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers who defected to the PDP, said the people  should expect a change of leadership in the House to alter the power configuration of the state.

    He added that the House’s standing order recognised the power sharing arrangement of the principal officers –in line with the senatorial districts they come from.

    According to him, Omirin’s continued stay as Speaker is no longer sustainable, following Fayose’s emergence as governor.

    The lawmaker said Omirin, who is from Ekiti South Senatorial District, would have to go since the Deputy Governor, Olubunmi Eleka, is also from the same senatorial district.

    Adeloye said: “You know that the governor is from Central, the deputy governor from the South and at the same time, the Speaker is from the South.

    “The House has the power to change leadership and there is no novelty about this. Remember the Second Assembly had four Speakers and the Third Assembly had two and if this happens again, it is not something new.

    “But the whole thing depends on the leadership of the Speaker. If the Speaker has the acumen, the creativity, he can still hold fort. We were in the APC together before and he should not be crying foul now.”

    Adeloye denied the allegation that the PDP lawmakers had been bribed to impeach Omirin.

    He claimed that their action at Monday’s plenary was in tandem with the wishes of their constituents.

    “This is the aggregate preference of our people, 26 House members against the will of the people? I want to tell you that I was an APC man to the core; in fact, I voted for Fayemi at the last governorship election but the people of my constituency said they want me to go to the PDP.

    “The people of my constituency voted for Fayose that is simply indicating that they wanted change and the bribery issue  does not arise at all,”Adeloye added.

    When asked whether or not the  PDP lawmakers’ action  could stand, the lawmaker said: “Let them go to court; the House can regulate itself. In the absence of the speaker and the deputy speaker, we have the right to appoint a speaker protempore to preside and that was what we did.”

    The police have denied complicity in Monday’s “sitting”.

    Police spokesman Victor Babayemi absolved the command of blame.

    Babayemi said the police did not take sides with any of the contending parties “but was carrying out its constitutional and statutory functions of forestalling the breakdown of law and order”.

    The police spokesperson  denied the allegation by the APC  that its lawmakers, who heard of the illegal sitting, were turned back by mobile policemen deployed in  the Assembly complex.

    He refuted the claim that armed policemen and PDP lawmakers held the Clerk of the House, Tola Esan, hostage and forced him to surrender the mace with which the “sitting” was carried out.

    Babayemi said: “We have nothing to do with the mace or its custody.

    “It is not correct to accuse the police of any complicity in what transpired at the Assembly because all what we were doing was to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order.

    “The policemen who were at the Assembly complex on Monday were there to perform their duties.

    “We are always proactive because when we see any problem coming, we always try our best to avert them.

    “All these happenings call for serious concern. I want you to know that we have a police post at the Assembly complex but we had to deploy more personnel to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

    “And on our part, we are doing our best that there is no breakdown of law and order.

    Responding to a question on why some APC lawmakers were allegedly prevented from entering the Assembly on Monday, Babayemi said the police had no reason to do so because “they are not partisan”.

    “The allegation that we prevented some people from entering the Assembly complex is not true.

    “We are not siding with any party, all we are after is maintenance of peace and prevention of breakdown of law and order.”

    The State APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said the police cannot exonerate themselves from the “illegality” carried out on Monday.

    Olatunbosun, who featured on a live interview programme on ADABA 88.9 FM, Akure, which was monitored by our correspondent yesterday, said the police were culpable for giving security cover to a  “sitting” that contravenes the constitution.

    He said the alleged partisanship of the police encouraged the desecration of the Assembly by the PDP lawmakers.

    Olatunbosun, a former Commissioner for Information, said Ekiti was sliding into chaos and anarchy.

    He decried what he called the “decimation of the Judiciary and the Legislature” in the state.

    The APC spokesman said the purported sacking of the Speaker’s  aides was an unprecedented illegality.

    He said the action means that the governor can sack the aides of the chief judge.

    Olatunbosun said the blackmail of the APC lawmakers by Fayose’s loyalists set the tone for the latest crisis in the state.

    He insisted that the allegation that the 19 APC lawmakers were bribed was sheer blackmail that was illogical and untrue.

    Olatunbosun said: “Blackmail is the stock in trade of Fayose  and his followers and we are not surprised at all.

    “His knack for blackmail has no limit and if he and his supporters are blackmailing the APC lawmakers, we are not surprised.

    “There are rules and procedures guiding screening and ratification of nominees by the House.

    “Fayose’s commissioner-nominees were not screened, their resumes were not scrutinised and we don’t know if their credentials are genuine.”

    The APC Vice Chairman in Ekiti South Senatorial District, Kayode Babade, who also spoke on the programme, said with the sealing  of the Assembly, showed that Ekiti was under siege.

    He maintained that the governor lacked the power to sack the aides of the speaker and the deputy speaker because the House was immuned from the control of the Executive.

    “Fayose must produce the three unidentified persons who impersonated the lawmakers.

    “The prevention of cameras to cover the proceeding was  illegal because it is  in the rules of the House that every procedure must be recorded.

    “The latest situation in Ekiti portends retrogression for our dear state, lack of peace and there can be no development and since this man became governor, it has been needless controversies and crisis.”

  • ‘PDP austerity measures have failed’

    ‘PDP austerity measures have failed’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has lambasted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government for subjecting Nigeria to economic ruins.

    It said the austerity measures reeled out by the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, show that the PDP could not be trusted with the fate of any country seeking development and progress.

    In a statement in Lagos by its Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, the party said it was lamentable that the PDP laid no foundation and built no project that could help Nigeria survive the economic crisis occasioned by the drop in oil price.

    “We note that while oil price skyrocketed in the last 16 years of PDP’s governance, the people have been fed with wrecked infrastructure, grand reversal of the gains made during the previous era, a crumbling country, massive corruption, ineptitude and impunity.

    “We note that in any sane and normal society, the providential windfall Nigeria gained from skyrocketing oil price would have been employed to build infrastructures, create jobs and reduce poverty.

    “We note how the party has been promoting a bizarre corruption complex, which has seen Nigeria broke just two months after oil price started a free fall.

    “We had raised alarm that the PDP was raiding the excess crude account and other savings that would have helped us withstand the present economic shock.

    “We note that the so-called austerity measures the PDP government has rolled out said nothing about the gargantuan fonts of corruption the government has been nurturing since it came to power.

    “We know that majority of Nigerians make nothing out of the so-called austerity measures since millions of Nigerians have been subjected to endless austerity for most of their lives.

    “Lagos APC believes that what is happening now warns the good people of Lagos against the PDP and its set of desperate day dreamers who have been dreaming of taking over Lagos.”

  • Bayelsa stakeholders warns PDP against imposition

    Bayelsa stakeholders warns PDP against imposition

    Peoples Democratic party (PDP) stakeholders in Bayelsa West Senatorial  District have frowned against alleged plan by the party leadership to   impose a senatorial candidate on the zone.

    The stakeholders under the aegis of the Bayelsa West Democratic Assembly (BWDA) said only a candidate that is selected by the people stands a chance of winning the senatorial poll.  They warned that any attempt to impose an unpopular candidate will lead to doom for the party. electoral defeat.

    They urged the governor, Seriake Dickson, to provide a level-playing ground for aspirants as the primaries.

    The stakeholders endorsed the aspiration of the Coordinating Secretary, Southsouth Peoples Assembly (SSPA), Dr. Ayakeme Whiskey, saying he is the best among all the senatorial aspirants from the district.

    The Chairman of the group, Mr. Victor Augustine, observed that the district had suffered untold hardship because of the imposition of candidates on them by the government.

    While noting that government exists to serve the interest of the people, he wondered why few people in power were fond of deciding the fate of the masses in general elections.

    Augustine said: “We came together as a result of this particular issue of imposition of candidates. The district has long been suffering on the issue of government imposing candidates on the people and these are candidates who cannt perform.

    “We have taken a stand to say that enough is enough over this issue of government imposing non-performing candidates on us”, he said.

    Augustine lamented that, after elections, imposed candidates who became victorious often relocated to Abuja, thereby making themselves unapproachable by their constituents.

    He said the federal legislators only showed up in their constituencies elections.

    He said: “We are crying for the whole world to hear us. We have been suffering and we know that this time around God will not allow the wish of the government to prevail against popular wish.

    “We are mobilising all the 74 communities in the district to come out to stand against imposition. Government must allow the people to vote for their choice. The people must choose their leaders”, he said.

    He said, if the government allows credible primaries to hold, aspirants supported by the people will clinch the party’s ticket.

    He urged the government not to underestimate the strength of the stakeholders explaining that their membership cut across the 74 communities that make up the district.

    Augustine said, if the government insisted on imposing unpopular candidates, members of the group would support better candidates from opposition parties.

    He said community and youth leaders from the district were behind the campaign against imposition.

    He added: “Our membership strength is about 5000 and more are still lobbying to register with us. All the community leaders are working n line with our vision.

    “I advise everybody to support a credible candidate. Nobody should allow the government to impose unpopular candidates because by doing that you are selling your rights.

    “Don’t be bought over by the government. PDP will lose the election if the government opposes unpopular candidate. There are credible candidates in opposition parties that would make PDP lose election.”

  • Controversy over automatic tickets for senators

    Controversy over automatic tickets for senators

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is polarised by the agitation for automatic tickets by senators. Following the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term, the senators intensified their clamour for return tickets. When the party leadership acceded to the senators’ request, members of the House of Representatives also demanded for the same privilege in the spirit of equity. How will the ruling party resolve the logjam? Assistant Editor ONYEDI OJIABOR and SANNI ONOGU write on the scramble for parliamentary slots by PDP National Assembly members.

    There is no end in sight to the intrigue  trailing the controversial automatic tickets conceded to 40 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senators. That the Senators are all interested in return tickets to the  Senate is not in doubt. What is increasingly becoming doubtful is the number of senators who will return to the Red Chamber after the 2015 general elections.

    To the discomfort of many observers, unmitigated horse trading, scheming and wily maneuvers are characterising the electioneering. Political gladiators are plotting to undo one another. Others are exploiting available loopholes to stay afloat in the murky political environment.  To the average politician, all is well that ends in their favour.

    Senators are up in arms, threatening to frustrate legislative functions, including the passage of the 2015 Appropriation Bill, following the controversial November 1 ward congresses of the PDP.

    To some observers, the insistence of the senators for automatic ticket smacks of selfishness and an attempt to perpetuate themselves in office.

    Some of the lawmakers claimed that they were flagrantly denied a level-playing field during the congresses by governors. Others alleged that they were deliberately schemed out of the exercise.

    The aggrieved senators have been holding nocturnal meetings.  At one of their secret meetings, the aggrieved lawmakers resolved to seek President Goodluck Jonathan’s intervention.

    On November 6, the senators, led by Senate President David Mark, headed for the Presidential Villa. They complained that the hands of the governors were heavy on the crisis-ridden chapters. After over three hours exhaustive meeting with Dr. Jonathan and the PDP leadership, the senators  convinced the President.

    Consequently, no fewer than 40 senators were granted automatic tickets to return to the Red Chamber in 2015. But, the gains are now being reversed. Reflecting on the controversy that trailed the decision on automatic tickets, a senator said: “Nothing is certain yet. We are still at the stage of wait-and-see.”

    The concession made by President Jonathan and the PDP leadership to the senators was said to have been arrived at after many options had been considered.

    One of the options included the principle that, at least, one senator per state, should return to the Senate under the party’s platform, if two senators of the same state cannot make it.

    The  case of Akwa Ibom State was said to have been cited where “the coast has been cleared for the Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang (Akwa Ibom North East), to return to the Senate, since Governor Godswill Akpabio is seeking to replace Senator Aloysius Etok (Akwa Ibom North West).

    Besides, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Senator Helen Esuene (Akwa Ibom South),  will pursue her governorship ambition.

    Another option said to have been adopted at the parley was the principle that “if a governor wants to take the seat of a senator, he should negotiate with the senator involved.”

    In the case of Enugu State, where a seat was said to have been conceded to Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, the party was said to have resolved to negotiate with Governor Sullivan Chime. A source said governors who could not make it to the senate may become ministers, if the President wins at the polls.

    In the case of states where there are no PDP senators, the agreement was that the party leadership will take a decision.

    Those said to have been granted automatic ticket include Mark, Ekweremadu, Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba, Senators Ita Enang, Ahmed Makarfi, Nenadi Usman, Smart Adeyemi, Atai Idoko Ali, Barnabas Gemade, Berth Nnaji, Pius Akinyelure, Boluwaji Kunlere, Philip Aduda, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Uche Chukwumerije, Bassey Out and Benedit Ayade.

    Others are: Senators Zainab Kure, Simeon Ajibola, Ayo Adeseun Ademola, who defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP, Hosea Agboola, Emmanuel Bwacha, Umar Abubakar Tutari, Suleiman Adokwe, Maccido Mohammad Ahmed, Abdullahi Danladi, Hassan Abdulmumin, Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, James Manager, Emmanuel Paulker, Heineken Lokpobiri, Bello Tukur, Hassan Barata, Joshua Lidani, Alkali Saidu Ahmed, Andy Uba, Margery Okadigbo, Magnus Ugbsia, Garba Gamawa Babayo and Adamu Gumba.

    The outcome of the Villa meeting was described as “a win-win scenario” because “no side lost out completely at the end of the talk.” But,the governors are already plotting to pull the rug off the fret of the senators.

    After the ceremony marking Dr. Jonathan’s declaration for a second term in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the governors held another meeting with him. The governors resolved to upturn the automatic tickets granted the lawmakers.

    Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam was the first to cry blue murder after the meeting. Apparently sensing that his senatorial ambition may be ruined, he said the claim of automatic ticket by senators should be discountenanced.

    The governor emphasised that no concession of automatic ticket was granted to any senator.

    But, a PDP leaders, who was part of the senator’s meeting with the President, dismissed Suswam as a desperate senatorial aspirant, wondering why he chose to act as the President’s spokesman.

    Former PDP National Chairman Senator Barnabas Gemade (Benue North East) also took on Suswam. He said: “Governor Gabriel Suswam is not a senator and he was not in attendance at the meeting that was held on the 6th of November, 2014 by the senators of the PDP extraction with the President and the National leadership of the party, and could not have been privy to the decisions reached.”

    Another senator, who spoke on a condition of anonymity, said that Suswam was merely being edgy because of his senatorial ambition.

    A source said that details of Jonathan/governors’ meeting was leaked to the senators. The leakage, it was gathered, forced the senators to convene an emergency PDP caucus meeting on November 12.

    At the end of the meeting, the senators resolved to renew “the work to rule” they embarked upon after the congress.

    The lawmakers also resolved to renew their battle with the Presidency and the leadership of the party because they suspected plans to go back on the agreement on automatic tickets.

    During their meeting, the governors insisted that President Jonathan and the party leadership should take another look at the issue of automatic tickets.

    The governors reasoned that instead of granting 40 automatic tickets to senators, they (governors) should be allowed to take up the issue and review it on a state by state basis.

    The Senators on their part saw the move by the governors as a fresh move to outwit them and shortchange them ahead of 2015 elections.

    They were suspicious of the governors’ plan and resolved to send Mark to President Jonathan and the party to drive home their point.

    One of the senators said: “We were told at the meeting that governors met with the President and resolved that the party should allow them to review the issue of automatic tickets on a state by state basis instead of granting automatic tickets to the senators.

    “We see this as a ploy to outwit the senators and undermine our agreement with President Jonathan and the party. We believe that the move by the governors is a fresh bid to shortchange us and reverse the decisions of the meeting we held with the President and the party. Senators are not happy and I can tell you that a number of people are already contemplating ditching the party.”

    He added: “If care is not taken, the PDP could become a minority in the Senate before the end of the year. The danger again is that going back and forth on agreements reached with the highest organs of the PDP is painting a bad picture of the party.”

    It was also gathered that 11 PDP Senators  from the Northwest geo-political zone may have concluded arrangements to dump the party, owing to what they considered as the leadership’s  high handedness.

    No doubt, the embattled PDP senators are racing against time. The race, however, may not be for the swift. Those who will emerge front runners are likely to be those imbued with guts and political sagacity.