PDP Accuses ACN Of Destabilisation Plots

SAN FRANCISCO, July 14, (THEWILL) – The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) of plotting to destabilise the country following its renewed call for the impeachment of President Goodluck Jonathan over the recent developments in the Rivers State House of Assembly

PDP, in a statement issued on Sunday by its Acting National Publicity Secretary, Barr. Tony Caesar Okeke, said such call was an indication that the opposition party is indeed unserious, lacked direction and only seeks to destabilise the polity.

Maintaining that it did not in anyway lend support to the violence recently witnessed in the Rivers State House of Assembly, the PDP, which noted that brawls are common features in parliaments across the world, wondered how the recent fray in Rivers House of Assembly translates into an impeachable offense on the part of the President.

“Our attention has been drawn to the renewed call by the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) for the impeachment of President Goodluck Jonathan over the recent developments in the Rivers State House of Assembly. This is indeed a sign that the ACN is bereft of direction, plagued by inadequate understanding of the laws and only seeks to destabilise the polity for selfish reasons.

“For the avoidance of doubt, President Goodluck Jonathan has nothing to do with the activities of the Rivers State House of Assembly and has no link whatsoever in the recent developments in that legislative house.

“Much as we do not condone the violence witnessed recently in the Rivers State House of Assembly, it is imperative to point out that brawls are usual phenomena in parliaments and on no occasion has any reasonable person called for the impeachment of the President of a country as a result of legislative brawls,” the statement said.

The party recalled the fracas in Ogun State House of Assembly earlier this year, during which the mace was destroyed and noted that nobody called for the impeachment of Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

Citing examples of recent brawls in legislative houses across the world, including that of Ukraine parliament in March , Taiwanese parliament in June , Venezuela parliament in May, Turkey Parliament in March , Jordanian parliament in March ; the Georgia lawmakers brawl in the United States, during a TV-Show in February, among others, PDP said nobody called for the impeachment of the Presidents of those countries on account of the brawls.

The party however reiterated its call on its members in Rivers State to maintain decorum, remain law-abiding and be calm.