2015: Senators demand automatic ticket from PDP

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The battle between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Congress(APC) over the soul of the National Assembly deepened yesterday as the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP stormed the Senate , begging its warring senators to sheath their sword in the interest of the party. The pro -Tukur senators had earlier on the floor of the Senate engaged the lawmakers loyal to the embattled governor of Rivers state Hon. Chibuike Amaechi in another battle of supremacy over the presidential nominee for NDDC job from the state Mr Ogiri.
Senator Magnus Abe, and senator Wilson Ake who loyalists of Aaechi insisted that the state nominee for the job should be rejected in line with senate convention, which provides that every nominee of the president must enjoy the support of at least two senators from his state. But Mark in remark insisted that senate cannot sacrifice merit on the altar of state politics. He added that Ogiri was for the south south zone and not Rivers state alone.
But the aggrieved senators in move that may have added a new vista to the battle allegedly asked for automatic return ticket to the senate in 2015 as the only condition to return fully to the party.
The senators at a stormy session yesterday with the National Chairman of the party Alhaji Bamanga Tukur also asked for immediate return of the party structure to their governors who are already up in arms against the national chairman.
The sudden visit of the national chairman and other top officials of the party to the senate followed alleged renewed plot by the enlarged opposition which now claims to be in majority to wrestle power from the senate president David Mark.
Tukur at the meeting with the PDP senators yesterday however urged the party lawmakers to remain one united family adding that the problem facing was not insurmountable. Speculation were rife yesterday that some of the aggrieved senators may be defecting to APC in solidarity with their governors.
Source alleged that the visit of Tukur and his team was to pacify the aggrieved senators and to ensure that the PDP remain in firm control of the senate. According to him, the meeting
Present at the meeting yesterday include the senate> president senator David Mark, the majority leader senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, his Deputy senator Abdul Ningi and others senators.
The meeting moved into a closed session at about 2.30 pm yesterday. But the national chairman of the party in his opening remarks yesterday told the aggrieved to sheath their sword and’ work together as one big family which is known for’.
Tukur said the’ NWC was in the Senate to fraternize and exchange ideas with the PDP Senators on how they can continue to work together as one family.
Tukur also acknowledged the challenges facing the party but> assured that the problem is surmountable “because PDP is one family working together towards achieving a common goal”.
But the senate president on Wednesday stormed the senate to forestall lose The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP )Senate Caucus and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Party met at the National Assembly today ostensibly to put their house in order ahead of the forthcoming polls.
Mark led the Senators to the meeting while National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur led the party officials to the parley.
In his opening remarks, Senate President admitted that the party is facing some challenges but assured that the party is capable of addressing the issues like a family matter.
According to Mark “We admit we have some challenges in the party. It is expected in a big party like PDP . It is not unusual. We are equal to the challenges as a party. Hopefully, we shall come out of the crisis stronger”.
Senator Mark assured the NWC that the PDP Senators are> united in one accord and working together to ensure that the> transformation agenda is carried out to its logical> conclusion .