*As minority caucus disowns Ugochinyere-led coalition
*Says his actions unparliamentary, absurd, uncouth
By John Sambo, Port Harcourt (with Agency reports)
The minority caucus of the House of Representatives has disowned a group of lawmakers calling for the removal of the Acting National Chairperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Umar Damagum.
The caucus said the Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere-led group is unknown to parliament and does not represent the views of the caucus in the House.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers), Deputy Minority Leader, Ali Madaki (NNPP, Kano), Minority Whip, Ali Isah and George Ozodinobi, (LP, Anambra) on Tuesday.
The group, led by Ugochinyere, said it represents about 60 lawmakers on the platform of the PDP in the House.
He added that the group is a subset of the minority caucus coalition.
However, in the statement, the caucus condemned the action of Hon. Ugochinyere and his colleagues, stating that their demand does not represent the position of the minority caucus.
“The said coalition of lawmakers led by Hon Ikenga Ugochinyere is unknown to the parliament and both caucuses condemn in totality the absurd move, the uncouth and unparliamentary language of the group.
“The general public should take note that such a coalition is unknown to parliament and their demands do not represent that of the minority parties.
“The said lawmakers should desist from further misinformation of the public and be more honourable in their conduct.
Premium Times recalls that the Hon. Ugochinyere-led group is loyal to Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, while Hon. Chinda is a long-time ally of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The supremacy battle between Wike and Gov. Fubara is dividing the opposition in the House, as Chinda appears to be bringing the entire minority caucus into the fight.
The minority caucus is made up of the PDP, Labour Party (LP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Social Democratic Party (SDP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Young Peoples Party (YPP). (PT)
