No division in PDP says Ekweremadu, asks FG to apologize over Onnoghen

Deputy Senate President, Dr. Ike Ekweremadu has dismissed insinuation that there is division in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the February 16 presidential election. He described as orchestrated attempts, reports linking him with divisions in the party, stressing that he cannot be dragged into any controversy that creates the impression of a divided house in the PDP. His media adviser, Uche Anichukwu said Ekweremadu will not be distracted by cheap blackmail, smear campaign, and extreme propaganda, while he reassured supporters that the PDP is united and focused on wresting power from the All Progressives Congress (APC). “After the PDP lost the presidency and majority status at the National Assembly in 2015, I made it clear that I would stand by the party, no matter what. It took other party stakeholders and I a lot of efforts, sacrifices, soul-searching, and painstaking negotiations to hold the party together and rebuild it. If I did not abandon the PDP at its darkest hour, it does not make the slightest sense to say that I abandoned it now that its sun is rising again. “Meanwhile, I have held separate meetings with our Vice Presidential candidate, Peter Obi and the Chairman, South East Governors Forum, Dave Umahi, to work out strategies for the success of our party and candidates in the coming elections. “We are also setting up a meeting of South East PDP stakeholders by weekend to continue to strategise on the coming elections. I have no doubt that the South East leaders will deliver the region overwhelmingly to the PDP and I expect that other leaders will also do the same in their respective geopolitical zones”, he said . He urged PDP supporters not to be distracted by such propaganda as approach the critical stages in the coming elections. We should rather focus on delivering the votes to ensure the success of our party. In another development, Ekweremadu asked the Federal Government to apologize to judicial arm over the trial of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen by the Code of Conduct Bureau The Deputy Senate President also urged government to withdraw the charges against Onnoghen, describing the charges as extremely dangerous for the nation’s democracy. He said: “I consider the charges against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, His Lordship, Justice Walter Onnoghen as ill advised and dangerous, especially after similar attempts at the leadership of the National Assembly failed.
“This is extremely dangerous for democracy and can only divide the country further as well as alienate us as country very low in upholding the rule of law and independence of the judiciary. “I advise the Attorney General of the Federation to immediately withdraw the charges and apologise to the judiciary. We certainly can’t travel this road”. Tunde Opalana, Abuja