PDP: Elumelu Replies Party ‘It Is Against Constitution To Impose Reps Minority Leadership’

Following allegations of disloyalty leveled against it by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the minority leadership in the House of Representatives on Saturday said it is against the constitution and the rules of the legislative chamber for the party to impose leaders of the minority caucus.

Minority Leader of the house, Ndudi Elumelu, stated this in a statement issued by his Special Adviser (Legal), Oyorima Idahosa while reacting to a statement credited to the PDP on Friday that the minority leadership caucus in the house was disloyal to the party.

Elumelu noted that he and other members of the house minority caucus remain loyal to his party, the PDP.

“The attention of the leadership of the minority caucus of the House under Hon Ndudi Elumelu has been drawn to allegations of disloyalty levelled against it in a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP on Friday,” the statement read in part.

“This is completely against the principle of democracy, rule of law and fairness upon which our great party, the PDP, is founded and known since its formation 21 years ago.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the minority leadership of the House was elected in strict observance of Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Order 7 Rule 8 of the Standing Rule of the House of Representatives.

“This, the overwhelming majority of the minority caucus, comprising nine political parties – PDP, APGA, ADC, LP, SDP, PRP, AA, APM, ADP – did and communicated their decision to the Speaker in a letter dated 2nd July 2019 and signed by over 100 members of the 147-member caucus.”

Elumelu stated that by parliamentary rules, persons so elected become the leaders of the party caucuses in the legislature.

He said, “While the party can guide their elected members through the zoning of various minority leadership offices, it is not in the place of the party, by the provisions of the Constitution, House Standing Rules and parliamentary traditions, to appoint or foist minority or majority caucus leadership on its members.”