PDP lawmakers vow not to defect to APC

Members of the incoming National Assembly, elected on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, have vowed not to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The lawmakers made the vow in an eight-point communiqué signed by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and Deputy Leader of the House of Representatives, Leo Ogor, following their one-day retreat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Monday.

“The lawmakers resolved to shun defections and remain in the PDP to revive its political fortunes and give Nigerians better leadership; to continue to work as a body and speak with one voice at the National Assembly to further the party’s ideologies, interests, and national good; and to set up an effective oversight mechanism to benchmark the activities of the APC-led government on real time basis,” the communiqué read.

The PDP lawmakers assured the public of their preparedness to provide viable opposition to the ruling party.

They said they have undertaken “to provide the nation with a healthy, robust, vigilant, and responsible opposition, to promote democratic good governance, and development.”

The communiqué noted that PDP leaders and governors attended the retreat en masse and promised to avail their representatives to the 8th National Assembly of all necessary support and cooperate with other critical stakeholders to provide a responsible and effective opposition in the polity.

“The PDP leadership pledged to work with the members of the PDP in the National Assembly and give them the maximum support to excel as a vibrant opposition in parliament,” the communiqué said.

“The PDP leadership and National Assembly members emphasized the need for an efficient media management and in this regard will partner with the mainstream media to hold the APC-led government accountable to the people of Nigeria in the management of the country.

“The PDP National Assembly members resolved to partner with the party leadership and PDP governors to deliver quality governance to the people of Nigeria in PDP controlled states.”

At the retreat, the pioneer Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the party’s governorship candidate in Adamawa State for the 2015 elections, Nuhu Ribadu, urged the PDP legislators to shun corruption and demonstrate integrity and probity if they want to be successful in their new task as opposition members in the national assembly.

He also encouraged the lawmakers to champion reforms in the National Assembly that have to do with full disclosure and pay cuts, to reflect the fiscal realities of the moment, which will also give them the right pedestal to engage the government.

Credit: Adebayo Hassan/Premium Times