PDP Sets Up Committee For Change Of Name

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday said that it has set up a committee to change its name, but, however, did not disclose the names of the members of the committee.

The party has also said that it has expelled Senator Buruji Kashamu, representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Shemiu Shodipo and Segun Seriki for anti-party activities and also for hobnobbing with All Progressives Congress (APC) members.

This is even as the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus said that the party has enough evidence to reclaim its mandate in Ekiti state.

The party made its position known at the 80th National Executive Committee (NEC) held at the party national secretariat in Abuja.

Addressing newsmen shortly after the NEC meeting, the party National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan said, “We took disciplinary action against members hobnobbing with the ruling party.

“We shall not accept any untoward behaviour from members anymore. As a result, NEC approved the expulsion of Senator Buruji Kashamu, Semiu Sodipo, Segun Seriki and Bayo Adebayo, all members of the Ogun state chapter of the party.

“The party has also constituted a committee on harmonization on the possibility of a change of name,” he added.

Earlier, Secondus, who said that PDP will do everything possible to reclaim Ekiti said “this meeting was called to review recent happenings in the country and to take critical decisions that would help salvage the country’s democracy.

“Another example of how the system has decayed under the watch of the APC is the recent Ekiti election. What happened in Ekiti was a shame and mockery of democracy. It was disgraceful.

“Let me assure our teeming supporters that we have all the polling units’ results and overwhelming records of electoral infractions by the APC, security agencies and INEC. We will reclaim our mandate in court.

“The security agencies threw decency and fairness over board, openly teargassing, intimidating and arresting PDP supporters. They chased away PDP agents, provided cover for APC thugs to snatch and stuff ballot boxes all in the bid to assist INEC to rig the election in favour of APC.

“Nigeria is truly at a crossroad. In our wildest imagination, none of us thought that Nigeria could deteriorate to the level it is today. Life is no longer worth anything with rivers of blood a constant spectacle.

“The monkeys and baboons have been truly soaked in blood. No day passes without innocent Nigerians being slaughtered in their numbers by killer herdsmen, bandits or Boko Haram. Insecurity has so worsened that people are genuinely scared to travel freely.

“Yet, this was a government that promised to wipe out Boko Haram in a matter of weeks. The lack of political will to rein in the killer herdsmen has left Nigerians and the international community in shock,” he lamented, even as he called on the party not to allow a repeat of what happened in Ekiti in the Osun governorship election.

Speaking also at the event, Board of Trustees Chairman of PDP, Senator Walid Jibrin said that coming together of PDP and other 38 parties under the aegis of Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), will wrestle power from President Muhammadu Buhari.

Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu on his part said, “We sympathise with our members unjustly persecuted.

“We are happy that they are alive, that is the prize for democracy. We cannot allow injustice in this country and that is why we are building a nation where nobody will be unjustly treated.”

Present at the meeting were Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, former Senate President, David Mark, Gombe State governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, former governors of Kano, Niger, Cross River, Katsina, Benue, Kogi and Plateau States, Ibrahim Shekarau, Ibrahim Babangida, Liyel Imoke, Gabriel Suswam, Idris Wada and Jonah Jang respectively.

Others are former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki, ex-Defence Minister, Bello Haliru and former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara among others.