Senators on Wednesday threw caution to the wind as they shouted at one another over the mention of ‘new PDP’ on the floor of the Senate.
The Upper Chamber had opened debate on a motion on former Governor of Ondo state, Olusegun Agagu who died recently. When it was the turn of a former Governor of Gombe, Danjuma Goje, while eulogizing the late Agagau , referred to himself as a member of the new PDP.
Smart Adeyemi, representing Kogi, would however not take kindly anybody mentioning new PDP at plenary, saying it is offensive for Goje to have mentioned new PDP when according to him there is only one PDP recognized by the Standing Rule of the Senate.
Adeyemi instantly raised a point of order, saying “the regulatory body, INEC has not registered any other party beside PDP and Goje is still a member and has not decamped from the PDP”.
Also, senators from the opposition party backed Goje and this further infuriated Adeyemi and other senators loyal to Bamanga Tukur-led PDP.
A visible angry Adeyemi shouted at the opposition members, saying “Keep quiet; are you members of PDP?”.
In his usual display of maturity, Senate President David Mark asked Goje to clarify his statement.
“I am a founding member of PDP and I belong to the PDP headed by Kawu Baraje,” Goje said. Again, senators loyal to Bamanga Tukur got angry and engaged in shouting match with the new PDP members.
At this point, Senate President Mark cut in, saying “we should not discuss the issue of chairman here in the chamber. There is only one united PDP and let it remain so. Let’s not drag ourselves to the matter that does not concern us”.
It will be recalled that both Senate and House of Representatives resumed plenary last week after weeks of recess. In the House of Representatives, pandemonium broke out as members engaged in fisticuffs over the decision of Speaker Aminu Tambuwal to allow the chairman of the new PDP, Abubakar Baraje to address the plenary.
The ruling PDP has been sharply divided since August 31, when seven governors led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar announced the formation of a parallel national executive of the party christened ‘New PDP’ led by Abubakar Baraje.
Few days after the formation of the splinter group, no fewer than 22 senators and 57 members of Reps have declared loyalty to the Baraje-led group.
