The camp of the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar’s faction of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), otherwise known as ‘New PDP’ swelled last night as 57 members of the House of Representatives recognized the splinter group.
In a statement signed by the 57 members and made available to newsmen, the lawmakers commended the courage of Atiku Abubakar and the seven governors that formed the new faction and pledged loyalty to the national executive committee under the chairmanship of Abubakar Kawu Baraje, with Sam Sam Jaja and Olagunsoye Oyinlola as Deputy National Chairman and National Secretary respectively.
Earlier, 22 Senators have also declared for the ‘New PDP’, further deepening the crisis rocking the ruling party.
The statement reads in full, “We, the members of the House of Representatives under the platform of the New PDP, hereby congratulate our leaders on the emergence of the new party:
“Although a sizeable number of our members who could not append their signatures because of their unavailability in the country will do so immediately on arrival, we the under signed salute and appreciate the courage, sacrifice and resilience and patriotism of our leaders namely: former Vice President Atiku Abubakar GCON, and the Governors of Kano State, Dr. Rabiu MusaKwankwaso, Aliyu Wammako, (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Abdul Fattah Ahmed (Kwara), and Chibuike Amaechi(Rivers), and other well-meaning and eminent Nigerians for leading the way for the emergence of the New PDP.
“We are also using this opportunity to condemn in strong terms attempts by some agents of the Federal Government to use state apparatus to witch-hunt some of these patriots for taking this bold and courageous step.
“As members of the House of Representatives, we call on the security agencies and other anti-graft bodies to be professional in their activities and not allow themselves be used by anybody no matter how highly placed for their political ambitions. Remember how you want history to judge your tenures.
“We won’t hesitate however to use all instruments of law within our powers as provided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), to stop this and bring anybody found wanting to book.
“We wish to state that by this statement, we pledge our loyalty and support to the New PDP under the able chairmanship of Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, the Deputy Chairman, Dr Sam SamJaja, National secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinola and other members of the National Executive Committee.
“We congratulate them and wish them the very best as they steer the affairs of our party to provide level playing-field for all Nigerians”.
SIGNED
1.
HON. ABDULLAHI BALARABE
2.
HON. ABDULMUMIN JIBRIN
3.
HON. ALI AHMAD
4.
HON. ABDULLAHI MUHAMMAD WAMAKO
5.
HON. ABDULLAHI MUHAMMED RICO
6.
HON. ABDULMALIK USMAN CHECHE
7.
HON. ADAMU BASHIR
8.
HON. AHMAN-PATIGI ALIYU
9.
HON. AHMED ZEREWA
10.
HON. AISHATU AHMED BINANI
11.
HON. AIYEDUN AKEEM OLAYINKA
12.
HON. ALHASSAN ADO GARBA
13.
HON. ALIYU MADAKI
14.
HON. ALIYU SHEHU
15.
HON. AMINU SHAGARI
16.
HON. AMINU SULYMAN
17.
HON. AMINU TUKUR
18.
HON. ANDREW UCHENDU
19.
HON. ASITA HONOURABLE
20.
HON. BASHIR BABALLE
21.
HON. BLESSING NSIEGBE
22.
HON. DAKUKU PETERSIDE
23.
HON. DAWARI GEORGE
24.
HON. FARUQ MUHAMMED LAWAN
25.
HON. GIBSON NATHANIEL
26.
HON. GOGO BRIGHT TAMUNU
27.
HON. HALIRU ZAKARI JIKANTORO
28.
HON. HASSAN ADAMU
29.
HON. HUSSAIN NAMADI
30.
HON. IBRAHIM EBBO
31.
HON. IBRAHIM TIJJANI KIVAWA
32.
HON. ISSA BASHIR
33.
HON. KABIRU ACHIDA
34.
HON. KHABEEB MUSTAPHA
35.
HON. MAURICE PRONEN
36.
HON.MOHAMMED SABO
37.
HON. MPIGI BARINADA
38.
HON.MUHAMMAD AHMED MUKHTAR
39.
HON. MUHAMMAD IBRAHIM
40.
HON.MUHAMMAD SANI KUTIGI
41.
HON. MUKHTARI MUHAMMAD
42.
HON. MUSA ADO
43.
HON. MUSA SARKIN-ADAR
44.
HON. MUSTAPHA BALA DAWAKI
45.
HON. MUSTAPHA MASHOOD
46.
HON. OGBONNA NWUKE
47.
HON. RAFIU IBRAHIM
48.
HON. SA’AD NABUNKARI
49.
HON. SANI MUHAMMED ALIYU
50.
HON. SHUAIBU GOBIR
51.
HON. SOKONTE DAVIES
52.
HON. SUFIYANU UBALE
53.
HON. UMAR BATURE
54.
HON. USMAN WADA
55.
HON. YUSUPH DUNARI SULE
56.
HON. YUSUPH GALAMBI
57.
HON. ZAKARI MUHAMMED.
