Muazu, PDP leadership meet with PDP Reps, fail to table Tambuwal’s issue

ABUJA-NATIONAL leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP yesterday held a marathon meeting with PDP members in the House of Representatives without a mention of the dumping of the party for the All Progressives Congress, APC by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.
Newsmen gathered that issues raised at the meeting centred around automatic tickets for members of the House of Representatives as a bargaining factor in the political scenario in the house, just as the possibility of extending the gesture of automatic ticket to them formed the nucleus of the meeting.
The National Secretary, Prof. Wole Oladipo chairs the Committee on granting automatic tickets to members.
The meeting which took place at the National Executive Committee (NEC) hall of the national secretariat, started at about 8pm..
At the meeting, the leadership of the party and the lawmakers discussed forming a committee of lawyers and members of the House that will properly advise the party on the next line of action regarding the resignation of Speaker, Tambuwal.
The meeting took off at 9.10 pm soon after the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu and his deputy, Prince Uche Secondus entered the National Executive Committee, NEC hall, venue of the meeting at 9.05pm.
Before Muazu and Secondus entered, other members of the National Working Committee, NWC were already in the hall with members of the House of Representatives. Other NWC members were the National Secretary, Prof. Adewale Oladipo; Deputy National Secretary, Onwe Solomon Onwe; National Treasurer, Alhaji Buhari Bala; National Organising Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha; National Auditor, Adewale Adeyanju; National Legal Adviser, Victor Kwon; National Woman Leader, Mrs Kema Chikwe; National Youth leader, Abdullahi Maibasira, and others.
Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, House leader, Mulikat Akande- Adeola, Deputy House Leader, Leo Ogor and other PDP members of House of Representatives attended the meeting.
Shortly after the meeting started, PDP National Chairman, Adamu Muazu came out at 9.27pm and when asked by Journalists about the meeting, he simply said the meeting was going well.
The National Chairman left and his Deputy, Prince Uche Secondus, then took over as the Presiding officer.
The meeting was summoned at the instance of the law makers.
They were hoping to convince the party hierarchy to extend the privilege accorded President Goodluck Jonathan who has been adopted by all organs of the party as the sole candidate for next year’s presidential election.
Speaking with Journalists after the meeting which ended at 9.55pm, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisah Metuh said, “We discussed matters of mutual interest for the progress of the PDP. We are happy with the commitment of the members of the pdp in the house. But I need to mention that it was not only PDP members that were here. Members of the labour party and APGA were here. These are people that are committed to the progress of the country.”
On Tambuwal he said “our discussion is strictly private. It has to do with the position that we are exchanging in furtherance of party interest. But I don’t know why you have to think that we had to duiscuss the matter of the speaker.”
“This is not the first time we are having such a meeting. I cannot confirm that we discussed such a matter.”
“Member will raise issues of automatic ticket, protection and their own interest and party protecting them for their own interest.
Some of them have raised such issues people will have to talk about their own interest. They have to talk about how we will help them.
“Let me tell you strictly. I will never make a comment that is false instead I will not discuss it. The topical issue about the seat of tambuwal or when they will reconvening did not come up for discussion at this meeting.
He said they have raised a committee to look at the matter. “We have raised a committee to look at the matter and we will get back to our members.”
He also admitted that they agreed to raise a committee of lawyers “to look at what we have discussed.”