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…as opposition PDP mounts fierce resistance
By Musa Baba Adamu
It was a parliamentary fire works yesterday on the floor of the Senate over defection of Senator Ned Nwoko ( Delta North ) from the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) to the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC).
Senator Ned Nwoko had in a letter addressed to the President of the Senate , Godswill Akpabio premised his defection from PDP to APC on factionalization of the party.
In the letter entitled : “ Notice of Departure from PDP to APC “ Senator Nwoko said the decision was not made lightly, but rather after deep reflection and extensive consultations with his constituents, political associates, and stakeholders across Delta North Senatorial District.
According to him , the PDP, which once stood as a formidable platform for democratic participation and national development, has unfortunately been engulfed in persistent crises, ranging from internal divisions to a lack of clear leadership and direction.
“ The continued deterioration of the PDP raises serious concerns about the future of our multi-party democracy. If urgent steps are not taken to address this national emergency, Nigeria risks sliding into a dangerous one-party system, which history has shown to be detrimental to governance and national stability.
“In view of this, I urge the Senate to take this matter seriously by setting up an Ad-Hoc Committee to investigate the crisis within the PDP and recommend a way forward to safeguard our democracy”, he said .
But immediately after Senator Nwoko was led to the majority side of the Senate , the Minority Leader , Senator Abba Moro ( PDP Benue South) raised constitutional point of order to debunk the claim of Nwoko that PDP is factionalized .
Abba Moro who cited section 68 ( g) of the 1999 constitution to fault Nwoko’s defection , said PDP is not factionalized which according to him , made Nwoko’s defection unconstitutional .
“ PDP as a political party today is not factionalized as there is only one National Working Committee ( NWC)and Board of Trustees ( BOT ) , running the party “, he said .
He was however immediately countered by the Deputy President of the Senate , Senator Jibrin Barau who pointedly told Abba Moro that every Nigerian knows that in PDP , there is a Barrister Nyesom Wike led faction and Governor Bala Mohammed led faction .
The President of the Senate further put Abba Moro on the heat , by asking him to name the authentically recognized National Secretary of PDP .
“ This defection , is an earthquake one , that will lead to many other PDP Senators dumping the party .
“ Little wonder that the defector and the new big fish in APC , Senator Nwoko , begged the Senate to set up an Ad – hoc committee to look into intractable crises bedeviling the party , before collapsing completely .
“ The request is good for survival of democracy in the country but the Senate will not constitute the committee now “, he said .
The Leader of the Senate , Senator Opeyemi Bamidele ( APC Ekiti Central ) , also took up Abba Moro on his denial of factionalization in PDP , saying section 68 ( g) of the 1999 constitution he cited to fault Nwoko’s defection , actually constitutionalised the action , since existence of factions in PDP at the National level, are very apparent.
With Nwoko’s defection to APC from PDP , the number of Senators on the platform of the party , has reduced to 33, while those on the platform of APC , increased to 64 , while Labour Party has 5 senators , NNPP, two Senators , SDP two Senators and APGA , one Senator , totalling 107 , leaving two seats vacant.
The two vacant seats are those of Anambra South caused by the death of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah last year and Edo Central caused by emergence of Senator Monday Okpebholo as Executive Governor of Edo State from the election conducted in September last year by the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC).
