•Asks members to elect candidates
THE leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Wednesday, directed its elected members in the National Assembly, the Senate and House of Representatives, as the minority, to select their principal officers within one week for submission to their presiding officers as required by the law.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja yesterday, the National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, disclosed that its National Working Committee (NWC) had met and resolved that in consonant with the provisions of the Standing Rules of the National Assembly, the PDP members would use their various zonal party caucuses to chose party principal officers.
He said this was to enable them provide effective opposition in both chambers of the National Assembly
Metuh declared that PDP as a party would not chose leaders for the lawmakers but would rather encourage them to choose their leaders democratically through their zonal caucuses in the two chambers.
According to him, “we will zone the positions and we expect the lawmakers to fill in the positions. We have directed them to note that in accordance with the practice and convention of our party, the nomination process should take into consideration ranking, gender and religious sensitivities.
“It is the wish of the NWC that this exercise be concluded within one week and communicated accordingly for further action.”
According to Metuh, the offices were zoned as follows: Senate: Minority Leader (South-South), Minority Whip (North-Central), Deputy Minority Leader (North-East) and the Deputy Minority Whip (South-West).
In the House of Representatives, the party agreed as follows: Minority Leader (South-South), Minority Whip (North-West), Deputy Minority Leader (South-East) and Deputy Minority Whip (North-East).
-Tribune
