…As Goje, Adeyemi Trade Words
SAN FRANCISCO, September 25, (THEWILL) – The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reared its ugly head on the Senate floor on Wednesday and disrupted Senate proceedings as Senators Danjuma Goje and Smart Adeyemi engaged each other in hot exchange of words over the seeming factionalisation of the PDP.
While Adeyemi (Kogi) insisted that the PDP remains “one party”, Goje (Gombe) said he only recognised the Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led ‘new’ PDP.
Trouble started when Senator Goje while contributing to a motion on “The death of Olusegun Kokumo Agagu, the former Governor of Ondo-State”, made reference to the ‘old’ and ‘new’ PDP; a development that prompted Senator Adeyemi to raise a point of order relying on order 53(7) of the Senate Standing Rules.
He described Goje’s statement on the PDP as “out of order and offensive” even as he tagged the ‘new’ PDP a “mushroom” arrangement.
Adeyemi in his outburst declared: “For a distinguished Senator, a former governor to insult the ruling party, a party that he has not defected is not acceptable. As at now, Senator Goje is still a member of the PDP; so it will be wrong of him to say that there are two parties within the PDP. The PDP is one party.
“I want him (Goje) to withdraw that statement saying the new and the old PDP. In this chamber we have one PDP and I think you will agree with me that PDP is the only party registered by INEC.
“For anybody in this hallowed chamber to lay claim to two PDP is unconstitutional. As far as the constitution is concerned, INEC is the sole body with responsibility of accrediting parties. Mr President, we have one PDP that is duly registered by INEC.”
Goje, in his reaction, said: “Let me make it clear I am a foundation member of the PDP since 1998. In Eagle Square then, we formed the PDP. Now, I am a member of the PDP led by Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje.”
However, the Senate President, David Mark amidst the verbal outbursts insisted that the issue of the legitimate Chairman of the PDP will not be subject to debate at Senate plenary.
“The issue of who is chairman of PDP cannot be an issue for debate on the floor here. The point is that you are a member of PDP and therefore PDP remains one united, strong and largest party in black Africa,” Mark said.
The development is however coming on the heels of the visit by the Baraje-led ‘new’ PDP along with the group of seven governors (G7) of the splinter PDP to the Senate President, where they (‘new’ PDP) restated their demand that President Goodluck Jonathan must drop his ambition to re-contest in 2015.
