Niger PDP backs Aliyu

With the suspension of Governors Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and Ibrahim Wamakko of Sokoto State by the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, the Niger State chapter of the party on Thursday took what appeared a pre-emptive step by declaring it has implicit confidence in the state Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu.
The Niger State chapter of the PDP said it is solidly Aliyu, warning that it will not condone any such act in the state.
It also said there is no reason for the state House of Assembly “to impeach him.”
Addressing newsmen at the party’s secretariat in Minna, the state capital, the Publicity Secretary, Hassan Saba, said after the Expanded State Executive Council meeting of the party, which was held on Wednesday, it was decided that it should not act on the rumour that some people were pushing for the impeachment of Aliyu.
According to Saba: “We are aware of the crisis at the national level, but we assure Nigerians that what is happening in the party will in no distant time be resolved, because it is a family problem.
“PDP cannot act on rumour.
“We are very disciplined in the country.
“Even the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Hon. Adamu Usman, stated categorically that they have no problem with the governor and that they are 100 per cent behind him.
“We, the party executives are also 100 per cent behind him as far as we are concerned.
“Niger State PDP is solidly behind Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu and we will not condone any such act of impeachment in the state because there is no reason to impeach him.”
Speaking on the zoning arrangement for political offices as agreed by the three senatorial zones in the state, Saba hinted that the governorship slot of the state for 2015 is going to Zone C and the party is not ready to compromise the gentleman agreement no matter what any individual or group of persons plan to do.
He said: “The executive committee of the party was notified of the zoning arrangement in the state and it was adopted by the caucus.
“The governorship is going to Zone C, deputy governor Zone A, speaker Zone B, Chairman of the party Zone B, deputy chairman Zone C, party secretary Zone A.
“We have assistant chairmen who have been directed that the zoning arrangement should be carried to senatorial and local government levels.”
Furthermore, Saba said since the number of members of the executive committee has increased to 179 from the initial 105 members, constitutionally 60 members will form a quorum and decisions will be taken as provided by the constitution by simple majority.
He said at the meeting, it was agreed that the congresses that took place at the 274 wards, local government and state levels have been compiled and presented to caucus for rectification and security agencies have also been notified of the new authentic and accepted executive members of the PDP in the state.