Some Peoples Democratic Party lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Wednesday called on the party to brace up to its challenges and learn from its mistakes.
The lawmakers gave the advice while reacting to the Supreme Court judgement in favour of Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the PDP.
Speaking in separate interviews with journalists in Abuja, the Deputy Minority Leader of the House, Wilfred Chukwuma, urged PDP members to unite and offer effective opposition.
According to Chukwuma, a country without a vibrant opposition is not healthy for its democracy.
He, however, called on Nigerians to expect a vibrant and committed opposition, adding that the party would bounce in 2019.
Chukwuma said: “For me, it is an impressive judgement because any government without a vibrant opposition cannot succeed.
“If we had lost this case, I do not know what would have happened to democracy in Nigeria.
“This has shown that the judiciary is the hope of the common man, those who left the party because of the crisis should have a rethink.
“Concerning 2019, Nigerians should expect PDP to take over in 2019.”
Tijani Yusuf called on the party to put its house in order.
Yusuf said: “With this, I would say we have learnt our lessons, we must acknowledge the fact that it was a self-inflicted injury, but thank God, the Supreme Court saved Nigerian democracy.
“It was not PDP that was saved but our democracy. This is a victory for Nigerian people.
“As it is now, Nigerians now have a choice. PDP coming alive is a good step in the right direction.”
In similar vein, Danladi Biado, said that the victory would give the party victory come 2019.
Biado said: “Whatever that has a beginning must have an end. The tussle was so stringent but today, it is over.
“This judgment is not only for one faction but also for both. I am assuring Nigerians that we are fighting for a common cause; there is no cause for alarm.
“What everyone thought was that PDP will disintegrate, but I want to assure us that PDP will bounce back to power.
Francis Orogu, the Nasarawa State Chairman of the PDP, said the judgment had authenticated the Senator Ahmed Makarfi leadership as well as representing victory for democracy.
Orogu said: “This victory is not just about PDP as a party but Nigerians across board are happy, given the fact that the will of the majority has prevailed over parochial interest.”
He noted that the parochial interest was aimed at crippling the opposition.
Orogu said that the victory was an added impetus to the resolve of the party in the state to reclaim power from the All Progressive Congress in 2019.
Orogu said a lot of people in the state, who have been sceptical and disenchanted as a result of the crisis rocking the party at the national level, would now come out to play active roles.
NAN reports that the Supreme Court on Wednesday in Abuja upheld the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee as the authentic leader of PDP.
The judgment has ended the lingering leadership crisis that rocked the party for over a year.
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