It’s interesting to witness the political parties attempting to break free from their narrow perspectives when selecting candidates for important positions, whether in the Senate or in executive roles.
A faction within the Peoples Democratic Party, known as the Concerned PDP League, has expressed its strong opposition to the party’s intention of nominating Sen. Aminu Tambuwal as the Senate Minority Leader.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Mr. Daboikiabo Warmate, the Chairman of CPDPL, alleged that the group does not support Tambuwal due to his past actions as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Warmate argued that instead of Tambuwal, the position should be allocated to a state in the North-Central region, specifically Plateau State. He reminded everyone of Tambuwal’s history, highlighting his defection to another party in 2014 after being granted the Speakership of the House of Representatives.
“He may dream of holding such a position, but in reality, his ambition is futile. Moreover, his past actions have finally caught up with him,” Warmate emphasized.
Warmate pointed out that during Tambuwal’s tenure as Speaker of the 8th House of Representatives, a position bestowed upon him by the PDP, he defected to the All Progressives Congress.
“It is deeply disappointing and shocking to read in the newspapers that Tambuwal, the former Governor of Sokoto State and Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, aspires to become the Minority Leader of the 10th Senate,” Warmate lamented.
“This is the same person who, in 2014, abandoned the Speakership position we entrusted to him and defected to another party. Eventually, he returned to the PDP. And now, he wants to be the Minority Leader of the 10th Senate? We will not support you,” Warmate declared.
Warmate expressed doubt in Tambuwal’s trustworthiness for a second time and questioned his ability to lead as the Minority Leader of the 10th Senate based on his past actions.
He called for a midterm convention followed by the dissolution of the party’s National Working Committee to make room for fresh ideas.
The group also urged the Acting National Chairman of the party, Amb. Umar Damagum, not to approve any letter introducing Tambuwal as the Minority Leader of the 10th Senate.
“The former Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum failed miserably as a leader of the opposition party. Enough is enough; PDP members cannot be exploited and discarded,” Warmate asserted.
“It is the Peoples Democratic Party, not the Elite Democratic Party or the Stakeholders Democratic Party, and that is what they need to realize. We will not allow members, leaders, or any other individuals to exploit the party and discard it at will. That is unacceptable. We need to speak the truth to them.”
Warmate commended the former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, for providing a strong opposition voice during the eight years of the APC-led Federal Government under President Buhari.
The fact that a faction within the party has taken a stand and is willing to fight against any wrongdoing within the party is commendable. Nigerian politics have long been plagued by favoritism, causing competent individuals to be undervalued.
Now the question remains: Will the party heed this plea and consider the concerns raised by these individuals?
