The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lifted the suspension on seven Lawmakers who flouted the directives of the Party to emerge as Minority Leaders.
Two factions of the PDP caucus have been in existence since the constitution of the caucuses of the parliament in 2019.
The party had endorsed the Kingsley Chinda-led caucus but Ndudi Elumelu’s faction was recognised by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The party, yesterday, lifted the suspension placed on Elumelu and six other lawmakers but insisted that Chinda remained the leader of it caucus in the House.
PDP spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan said the National Working Committee (NWC) noted that the lifting of the suspension was based on the recommendations of various committees set up on issues relating to the suspension.
The statement reads: “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 Kingsley Chinda and charged all members elected on the platform of the party to continue to participate in the activities of the caucus.
“The PDP urges the lawmakers to ensure a stronger and more viable opposition that speaks with one voice in the legislative house.
According to the statement, the members are Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, Hon. Wole Oke, Hon. Lynda Ikpeazu, Hon. Anayo Edwin, Hon. Gideon Gwani, Hon. Toby Okechukwu and Hon. Adekoya Addul-Majid.
Responding to the lifting of the suspension, Elumelu (PDP, Delta) said the PDP leadership crisis was over as all issues had been resolved.
“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, PDP, since July 2019 has been finally laid to rest,” he said.
Meanwhile, the party has approved the conduct of its zonal congresses in the six geo-political zones on Saturday, March 6, 2021.
Ologbondiyan said the party has slated the submission of nomination forms, including aspirants for national ex-officio for on or before February 25, 2021.
