PDP: Fracas by APC Reps, national embarrassment

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised Thursday’s fracas by some All Progressives Congress (APC) members in the House of Representatives, describing it as a show of shame and a national embarrassment.
The Lower Chamber, on Thursday, recorded a rowdy session over its leadership positions.
This followed the decision of some members of the House to block moves to read a letter by the APC on the leadership positions.
The members disrupted proceedings when Rep. Orker-Jev Yisa, the Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee on the Review of House Standing Order, stood to move a motion for a closed-door session.
The protesting members scrambled to snatch the mace as they chanted songs against the proposed closed-door session.
On Wednesday, the North-Central and South-East caucuses of APC in the House, had protested that there were attempts to marginalise the zones in the leadership positions.
A statement by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, on the fracas said that the development brought to question APC’s commitment to democracy, unity and the stability of the country.
The statement said that the attempt to physically assault a duly elected Speaker and seize the mace, the authority of the House, was a direct attack on the Nigerian parliament.
It further said that what Nigerians witnessed in the House, clearly underscored the fact that the APC had exhausted its excuses.
It said that the APC had “imported its internal contradictions into an independent arm of government as a way to further cover its lack of ideas for governance”.
It stressed that the onus lay on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that all democratic institutions in the country were harnessed for effectiveness.
According to the statement, the continued confusion in the APC-led government is a confirmation of the PDP’s position that it lacked the capacity and democratic discipline to effectively govern the nation.
“A party that has since March 28, 2015, got its victory, about 90 days ago, cannot resolve a basic issue of selecting its leadership in the National Assembly. It shows clearly that its competence for national governance comes to question’’.
The statement, however, applauded Speaker Yakubu Dogara for his comportment, especially his statesmanlike remarks after the unfortunate incident in the House.
It urged him to continue to display maturity and not yield any ground in his duties to protect the independence of the legislature.
The statement further commended PDP members in the lower chamber for their maturity and dignifying conduct in line with the ideals of democracy laid by the party’s founding fathers and built on peace and unity.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the House of Representatives on Thursday, described the actions of the lawmakers who disrupted legislative proceedings over selection of principal officers as contempt of the House.
The Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Sani Toro said this while addressing newsmen after the controversy.
“It was obvious from the action of these members that they were acting on a premeditated script, as some of them even carried placards with inscriptions on them.
“These members attempted to seize the Mace, which is the symbol of authority of the House and other sundry acts of fighting.
“They committed actions unbecoming of the status of honourable members.
“The conduct of these members amount to contempt of the House and is a clear violation of the standing orders of the House and legislative houses (Powers and Privileges) Act and the customs and traditions of Parliament.’’
Toro, who conveyed the Speaker’s apology to Nigerians, however, assured the public that the 8th House would not be deterred from fulfilling its mandate.
“The House in fulfilment of its mandate shall devote its time and energy to address the hydra-headed problems facing Nigerians in consonance with our primary responsibilities,’’ Toro said.