Emeka Ihedioha: deputy speaker House of Reps

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has constituted a committee to look at issues of automatic ticket sought by members of the House of Representatives and other pending matters.

This was part of decisions reached at a meeting between the PDP leadership and members of the house in Abuja.

The meeting was convened at the instance of Alhaji Adamu Mu`azu, the PDP National Chairman.

Mu`azu, who left the venue of the meeting shortly after it began, however, declined comments on the purported demand of the lawmakers for automatic tickets to contest the 2015 election.

The meeting was consequently, presided over by the PDP National Deputy Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.

Briefing newsmen at the end of the gathering, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Olisa Metu, said the issue of automatic ticket was extensively deliberated on.

He added that the committee, set up with representatives from each of the six geopolitical zones of the country, was expected to address all issues relating to automatic ticket.

Metuh said that the defection of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, was not discussed at the meeting.

“We discussed matters of mutual interest for the progress of the PDP. We are happy with the commitment of members of the PDP in the house.

“But I need to mention that it was not only PDP members that were here. Members of Labour Party and APGA were here.

“These are people that are committed to the progress of the country; our discussion was strictly private. It has to do with the position that we are exchanging in furtherance of the party`s interest,’’ he said.

The PDP spokesman said the issue of Tambuwal`s seat or when the house would reconvene did not come up for discussion.

He, however, added that: “We have raised a committee of lawyers to look at what we have discussed and we will get back to our members.’’

Rep. Adamu Bashir (PDP-Jigawa) however, expressed optimism that the committee would swing into action immediately and report to the party`s National Chairman.

The Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr Emeka Ihedioha and the Majority Leader, Mrs Mulikat Akande, were present at the meeting.