The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has started plot to halt the defection of its members to the All Progressives Party (APC) in order to retain the leadership of the House.
As the investigation of Punch journalists showed, the PDP was already plotting to frustrate moves by some of the reps who might want to toe the line of their governors and defect to the APC.
It was learnt that the plan provided for engaging the services of the police and other security agencies to “harass and intimidate” PDP members who chose to join the APC.
A source, that preferred to say anonymous, revealed that the PDP was not comfortable with the relationship of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, with the APC.
Tambuwal reportedly met behind closed doors with leading members of the opposition on Wednesday at the Kano Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja.
At the meeting were a former head of state, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, erstwhile Lagos State governor, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Governors Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso [Kano], Aliyu Magartakada Wamakko [Sokoto], Rotimi Amaechi [Rivers], Ibikunle Amosun [Ogun], former Governor Ali Modu Sherrif of Borno State, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, Malam Nuhu Ribadu and the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Bello Masari.
On Thursday, a senior lawmaker, whose governor joined the APC, confided in Saturday Punch that part of the plot against the defectors was to stop the members from attending sittings.
On the other side, it was learn that while the PDP was plotting to thwart the defection of its members to the APC, the opposition party had also intensified its efforts to gain upper control of the House.
The party had continued to lobby PDP members to join it even as it compiled a list of prospective defectors.
According to the information gathered, the opposition party was planning to vote out the leadership of the House except the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, if it got the required majority of House members on its side.
It was earlier reported that the APC caucus in the House was preparing to unveil 186 members as its latest numerical strength in the House of Representatives.
According to the report, the figure is made up of the original APC members of 137 and the “49 members of New PDP” that have reportedly joined the caucus.
The APC caucus was reported to have requested each defecting PDP member to sign a list, which would be used to arrive at the final numerical strength of the party.
Sources within the APC claimed last week that the party’s membership had increased to 176 from 137 following the defection of five PDP governors to the party.
About 39 PDP lawmakers from the states of the affected governors (Kano, Adamawa, Rivers, Sokoto and Kwara) were said to have joined the APC, taking after the example of their governors.
However, none of the said 39 has defected formally on the floor of the House till date.
Although, APC sources had hinted that the party would unveil 186 members this week, preparatory to taking over the majority leadership of the House, nothing of such happened.
The Minority Leader of the House, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, confirmed that APC was working towards taking over the leadership of the House.
Additionally, the APC leaders have claimed that the PDP would not succeed in its plot to frustrate defecting members of the House.
It said that no amount of intimidation would prevent the members from joining the APC.
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