You’re Negotiating In Bad Faith: nPDP Tells Presidency, Apc

 Talks between the members of the nPDP, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Presidency that commenced some weeks ago has finally broken down as members of the nPDP accused the Presidency of negotiating in bad faith.

Forefront gathered that the development is most likely going to pave the way for the exit of the nPDP from the APC.

The nPDP declared that it appears that there is a fouled and toxic atmosphere and environment of intimidation and threat to life in which its members now find themselves which may no longer be conducive for its members to continue with the talks.

A team from the former nPDP led by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara and four others, were scheduled to meet with the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo on Monday but the meeting failed to hold.

A statement by the leader of the nPDP, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje pointedly said that while members of the nPDP were truly and earnestly committed to achieving reconciliation, harmony, truce and cohesion in the APC as the nation approach the 2019 general elections, it appears that the Presidency is not interested in the talks.

Baraje specifically said that the Presidency may have been negotiating in bad faith, stressing that the nPDP were alarmed that immediately after the meeting with the Vice President last week, the presidency deliberately misrepresented what transpired at the meeting by trying to blackmail some of the principal actors involved in the discussions in a national daily.

He also said that in similar circumstance, the leadership of the APC went ahead to ratify all the Congresses from Ward, Local Governments, States and zonal where many of the nPDP members have complaints, effectively presenting them with a fait accompli.

The nPDP further said that the persecution of its members using state security apparatus have continued unabated.

According to Baraje; “We recognize the powers of the Police to conduct criminal investigations but by rushing to the public with the issue even when they have unfettered access to the leadership of the National Assembly suggests an attempt to undermine, caricature and humiliate the institution of the legislature.

“Given the unfolding events in the last 24 hours, where the President of the Senate, His Excellency, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and His Excellency, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, both of whom attended the meeting with the Vice President on Monday 28 May, 2018, have suddenly been accused of sponsoring armed robbery by the Police under the directives of the Presidency.

“Similarly, on Saturday, June 2nd, 2018, the Department of State of Services (DSS) also suddenly withdrew more than half of all the security details attached to the presiding officers of the National Assembly under questionable circumstances.

The nPDP leadership said that it has resolved to  brief its members on the unfortunate development and get a fresh mandate if good faith returns to the discussions.