Deputy Speaker Denies Backing APC Lawmakers

IHEDIOHA

The Deputy Speaker, federal House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Emeka Ihedioha clarified  his position on the appeal against the judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja on the case involving the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the 37 members of the House who defected from PDP to All Progressives Congress (APC).

Maintaining that he remains a loyal member of the ruling PDP, Ihedioha, in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Oke Epia, said, ‘The attention of the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, CON, has been drawn to some newspaper reports, stating that he has appealed the judgment of the Federal High Court concerning 37 members of the House that defected from PDP to APC.”

The statement said “For the avoidance of doubt, the Honourable Deputy Speaker wishes to clarify that
he is just a nominal party in the suit by virtue of his office and counsel was briefed by the
management of the National Assembly to represent the House of Representatives as an institution,” saying “The appeal was primarily instituted by the 37 members who defected from PDP to APC.”

The statement stressed that Ihedioha remains a firm and committed member of the PDP and associates himself fully with its ideals, principles, purposes and progress.

“The Deputy Speaker will take steps to retain an independent counsel of his choice to take steps to protect his legal interests in the matter. This is to correct the impression conveyed by these publications that the Deputy Speaker is at odd purposes with his political party, the Peoples Democratic Party’’

“The media is therefore requested to be fully aware of the above clarifications in its reportage of the issues,” the statement added.