Ikenga Ugochinyere, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and member of the House of Representatives, has accused the acting National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagum, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of plotting to reinstate 27 Rivers State lawmakers who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in December 2023.
Ugochinyere alleged that Damagum has enlisted the services of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joshua Musa, perceived to be close to Wike, to “file secret action against PDP interest.”
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Ugochinyere, who represents Ideato South/Ideato North Federal Constituency of Imo State, stated, “We have called you today to give you an update on the recent happenings in the PDP following the now-confirmed reports which spread from last week about the PDP filing papers in court secretly in aid of the defected 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who are no longer lawmakers after they left PDP for APC and their seats were declared vacant.”
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While refraining from addressing bribery allegations involving a $2 million sum, Ugochinyere confirmed, “We can authoritatively speak to you about only what we can and have confirmed to be facts and to be true.”
He disclosed that the PDP has filed a motion for joinder in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/90/2024, seeking to declare the seats of the defected members vacant.
Furthermore, the PDP, led by Damagum and Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade, filed a counter affidavit opposing the prayers to declare the seats vacant, asserting that the defected lawmakers are still PDP members.
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