Violence broke out Tuesday evening at a meeting between members of the House of Representatives and the leaders of the Abubakar Baraje-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction, marring lawmakers’ resumption after two months break.

Mr Baraje, and the seven governors belonging to the faction, had earlier met with Senate President David Mark, before meeting the speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, and other lawmakers.

Governors Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers, Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, Aliyu Wammako of Sokoto and Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara met first with Mr Mark and then with members of the House of Representatives.

The meeting followed another held on Monday night between the leadership of the faction and its supporters.

The meetings, which were also attended by the group’s secretary, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, alongside several senators and other party officials, were led by Mr Baraje.

Same old demands

Mr Baraje told the lawmakers that the group was opposed to a new term for President Goodluck Jonathan. The group also called for the recall of Mr Amaechi, who was suspended by the party leadership, and his recognition as the chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum.

Other demands of the group outlined publicly for the first time, include restoration of the PDP executive loyal to Messrs Nyako and Amaechi.

The group also demanded the removal of Bamanga Tukur as National Chairman of the party, and called for strict adherence to party constitution.

The faction emerged more than two weeks after the seven governors stormed out of a special convention of the meeting of the PDP. They accused Mr Tukur of highhandedness.

The two sides have failed to resolve the differences despite several meetings. Lately, both sides have reached out to seemingly neutral members seeking to gather support.

At the Senate, Mr Baraje said Jonathan was pursuing a “third term” through the “back door” and accused the president of reneging on an agreement not to run.

“This group is fighting to ensure an end to impunity and for the protection of democracy,” he said. “If we continue like this, I don’t think the PDP can win any election henceforth.”

Cracks on the wall

Responding, the senate president told the group that he will stand for “justice and equity”.

“Even if you have a knife in my head, I will stand for justice, fairness and equity,” he said.

He, thereafter, urged the two groups to come together and uphold a strong and united party; adding that he will remain in the PDP.

“We are stronger and better as one big, strong and united party,” he said. “We need to work together and make our democracy sustainable.”

But the meeting at the House of Representatives, which came after the Senate’s, degenerated into confusion as supporters of Mr Tukur, who also support President Jonathan, booed Mr Baraje as he made his speech...

More here>>> http://telegraphng.com/2013/09/confusion-house-reps/

This new PDP or whatever they are called, are just going about disgracing themselves believing they are fighting a just fight. So these governors do not have things to do in their respective states anymore or what? Using state funds to travel and maintain themselves in Abuja for over 3 weeks now.