The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the House of Representatives has disowned media reports suggesting it directed its members to vote for Femi Gbajabiamila as the 9th assembly is inaugurated next week.
The caucus has accused some propagandists of “mischievously twisting a goodwill message to imply support” for a particular aspirant in the race for the speakership.
It had in a statement on Tuesday allowed its members to freely participate in any engagement with those seeking election for the position.
In a statement issued in Abuja Wednesday, PDP minority leader, Leo Ogor said while the caucus has directed its members to participate in meetings and strategy sessions of the APC speakership aspirants, they never directed them to consider voting for any of the aspirants.
He said though some confused elements in the ruling party are claiming to be ‘talking to one part of the PDP house caucus before talking to the other’, the caucus remains resolutely united, with decisive plans for strengthening democratic growth while patriotically exerting influence on the Speakership election process.
“In the Eid el Fitri message issued on Tuesday, we felicitated with all our Muslim brothers and sisters across Nigeria, we emphasized the significance of worthy virtues and also stated that our members may participate in meetings, strategy sessions and other activities of speakership aspirants so as to come back to the caucus with convincing assessments.
“While some publications including PUNCH newspaper have disseminated accurate and objective report, few others fabricated a completely new angle with one even using a deliberately fictitious and grossly erroneous headline in a manner that suggests being used for the ruling party’s usual misinformation and propaganda.
“Contrary to what has been sensationally reported by some, at no time did we give our members a directive to vote for any APC speakership aspirant; I hereby categorically dissociate myself and the PDP house caucus from the false comments being attributed to us as participation in meetings should not be deliberately misinterpreted as a directive on voting,”, Ogor stated
