Crisis Brews In PDP as North-west Senators Threathen To Leave Party

11 senators of the PDP from the North-West have threatened to dump the party in view of what is considered high handedness of the party. Nigerian Tribune reports.

Senate Chamber

Following moves by governors of the party to scheme them out of the automatic tickets promised them by President Goodluck Jonathan. The Senators last week, embarked on work to rule, with sympathy from their colleagues from other zones and political parties, following the outcome of the ward congresses of November 1, where the governors had the upper hand.

A truce meeting, held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, which had in attendance President Goodluck Jonathan, national chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu and senators, led by Senate President David Mark, however, agreed to ensure that, at least, two senators per state returned to the chamber in 2015.


But there are indications that the party and the presidency would renege on the agreement with the lawmakers, which informed their decision to hold another emergency meeting after the upper chamber sitting on Wednesday, where they reviewed the situation so far. The lawmakers at the meeting resolved to renew their battle with the party and resume their work to rule.

Sources at the National Assembly confirmed on Wednesday that governors of the PDP held a meeting with President Jonathan after his formal declaration on Tuesday and that the governors at the meeting argued that the president should take another look at the issue of automatic tickets to senators. The source said the governors insisted that instead of granting 40 automatic tickets to senators, the governors should be allowed to take up the issue and review it on a state-by-state basis.

The senators saw the move by the governors as a fresh one meant to counter their plans and they resolved to send their principal, Senate President, David Mark to help them put pressure on the presidency and the party leadership.

“We believe that the move by the governors is a fresh bid to shortchange the lawmakers and reverse the conclusion of the meeting we held with the president and the party. Senators are not happy and I can tell you that a number of people are already contemplating ditching the party,”  Nigerian Tribune quoted a source at the National Assembly.