The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has slammed the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, for making what it called ‘hate statement, inciting comment and direct threats’ to Kingsley Chinda.
Mr Chinda had been selected by the PDP to become minority leader of the house.
But Mr Gbajabiamila bypassed PDP and announced Ndudi Elumelu as minority leader, saying Mr Elumelu was selected by minority parties which PDP is only a part of.
During plenary on Thursday, Mr Chinda took the seat of the minority leader, prompting verbal confrontation from Gbajabiamila.
PDP in a statement on Friday by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, said Gbajabiamila’s outbursts at Chinda was a threat to democratic order.
“This vicious outburst by Hon. Gbajabiamila is a direct threat and affront to our democratic order, the rights of the minority members in the House of Representatives, the people of Obio/Akpo Federal Constituency and sensibility of millions of members of the PDP who nominated Hon. Chinda as Minority Leader.
“The PDP, in the strongest terms, condemns this outburst and demands that the Speaker retracts his inciting threats against Hon. Chinda within the next 24 hours.
“The PDP also invites the Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to summon Hon. Gbajabiamila to explain the intents of his threats.
“The PDP remains committed to rules and the sanctity of the Parliament. As such, our party will not allow anybody, let alone, the Speaker of the House of Representatives to undermine our right and deny Nigerians a voice in the House of Representatives,” the statement said.
