Rivers Crisis: Reps demand immediate resignation of PDP Chairman, Damagun

By Christiana Ekpa

The People Democratic Party (PDP) Federal lawmakers under the aegis of Opposition lawmakers coalition has threatened to quit the Party if the alleged doctored list of Local Government Caretaker Committees of the party in Rivers and 10 other states which was filled with members and loyalist of the All Progressive Congress, APC is not changed.
This was just as the lawmakers accused the PDP chairman of anti-party activities and alleging that he has plans to hand over the party PDP to the All Progressive Congress APC.
The lawmakers are also demanding resignation of the acting chairman of PDP, Umar Damagun to pave way for North central person to emerge as acting chairman of the party pending the conduct of convention as required by the party’s constitution.
Addressing newsmen at a press conference in Abuja, the spokesperson of the group and the Rep member representing Ideato Federal constituency, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere who was flanked by other leading members of the G60 lawmakers in the coalition said that the members cannot be in a political party where the activities of such party are determined by another political party.
The group accused the Ag. Chairman of PDP, Umar Iliya Damagun of working for APC alleging that the list of Caretaker Committee members in Rivers state was doctored in favour of former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and the members of the Rivers House of Assembly who have defected from PDP to APC with card carrying members of APC emerging as would be officers of the PDP.
They also accused Damagun of approving the plot to impeach the Rivers State Governor, Similayan Fubara, saying that Damagun “is fully aware of the entire details of the plots to impeach the Rivers State governor and he gave his approval to the plot, yet he refers himself as a Chairman of a party”.
Ugochinyere insisted that going by the constitution of the PDP and in line with its zoning formula enshrined in the constitution, it was the turn of the North Central to produce the Chairman of the party and called on North central leader to meet and present a credible replacement for Sen. Iyorchia Ayu.
The opposition lawmakers stated that Damagun will fail in his plot to sell PDP to the highest bidder as his abdication of the responsibilities of the office of chairman of the largest opposition in the country coupled with the tampering of the caretaker committee lists Rivers and other 10 states has exposed the plot and it will fail.