Elumelu replies PDP: You can’t impose Reps minority leadership

The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi
Elumelu, has stated that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party
cannot impose leaders of the minority caucus, saying it is against
the Constitution and the rules of the legislative chamber.

Elumelu also stated that he and other leaders of the House
minority caucus remain loyal to the PDP.

The Minority Leader made this known in a statement issued in
Abuja on Saturday by his Special Adviser (Legal), Oyorima
Idahosa.

The statement partly read, “The attention of the leadership of
the minority caucus of the House under Hon Ndudi Elumelu has been
drawn to allegations of disloyalty levelled against it in a
statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP on
Friday.

“This is completely against the principle of democracy, rule of
law and fairness upon which our great party, the PDP, is founded
and known since its formation 21 years ago.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the minority leadership of the
House was elected in strict observance of Section 60 of the 1999
Constitution (as amended) and Order 7 Rule 8 of the Standing Rule
of the House of Representatives.

“This, the overwhelming majority of the minority caucus,
comprising nine political parties – PDP, APGA, ADC, LP, SDP, PRP,
AA, APM, ADP – did and communicated their decision to the Speaker
in a letter dated 2nd July 2019 and signed by over 100 members of
the 147-member caucus.”

Elumelu stated that by parliamentary rules, persons so elected
become the leaders of the party caucuses in the legislature.

He said, “While the party can guide their elected members
through the zoning of various minority leadership offices, it is
not in the place of the party, by the provisions of the
Constitution, House Standing Rules and parliamentary traditions, to
appoint or foist minority or majority caucus leadership on its
members.”