By Joshua Egbodo
Abuja
There seems to have been a crack in the North East Caucus of the House of Representatives, as members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) within it yesterday dissociated themselves from the purported endorsement of Femi Gbajabiamila.
At the weekend, the North-East Caucus had after a meeting in Abuja resolved to throw their weight behind the candidature of the Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos), as Speaker with the hope that if successful, Tahir Monguno, would run as his deputy.
Specifically, 36 of the 48 members from the North-East Caucus reportedly supported the arrangement “if the party (APC) zones the Speakership slot to the South- west.”
However, the PDP elements in the group at a press conference at the National Assembly yesterday distanced themselves for the purported endorsement saying “we were suprised and shocked to see our names being brandished in some national dailies claiming that we endorsed Hon. Mohammed Tahir Monguno and Femi Gbajabiamila for any joint ticket.”
Spokesperson of the faction, Binta Bello Maigari, said: “Those of us who are members the Peoples Democratic Party, our party hasn’t taken a stance yet on who we should support and until such time, we will not be party to any endorsements.
“As loyal party members, we are still awaiting the decision of the leadership on zoning of National Assembly leadership position. We wish to state categorically clear that we were neither consulted, nor were we informed about the endorsement before it was published.”
Continuing, he said: “We want make it abundantly clear that at no time did we sit to endorse Hon. Monguno from North East and Femi Gbajabiamila for any joint ticket. Some of our names were only added to the list by these desperate people. We see this pattern of campaign as the height of desperation.
“They also used attendance list of one of the consultative meetings held by one of the aspirants to mischievously say we endorsed Gbajabiamila and Hon. Mohammed Monguno.
We understand that the list was released by Hon. Khamisu Mailantarki dishonourably, adding that the group had raised serious objections to the antics of some elements in the caucus and have already demanded an apology from the leadership.”
Members who she said were listed without consulting them are; Ahmed Yerima, Haliru Jika, Salisu Ningi, Abdulrasaq Namdas, Barden Garbas, Ibrahim Baba, Sabo Garbu, Binta Bello and Ali Isa JC.
