Group Politics Editor

Former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Audu Ogbeh, ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na'Abba, Second Republic Governor of Kano State, Abubakar Rimi, and erstwhile Foreign Affairs Minister, Tom Ikimi and ten other chieftains on Friday resigned from the party.

Others who resigned their membership are Musa Gwadabe, former Minister of Solid Minerals, Dubem Onyia, former Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Bashir Dalhatu, former Minister of Transport and Aviation in Abacha's government, Senator J.K.N Waku,

and Funke Adedoyin former Minister of State for Health.

In a letter dated December 14 and addressed to the National Chairman, Ahmadu Ali, the 13 former members of the PDP opined that they reached the decision in view of what ‘we consider to be trends and developments in the recent past which have so denatured the party we formed that we can no longer recognise it".

They further listed, among other reasons, the several actions by the PDP leadership totally contemptuous of the party's and the Nigerian Constitution and the courts, including "tendentious maneuverings all aimed at serving particular and sometimes personal interests.

The letter read in part , "Please accept our greetings. We, the underlisted wish to inform you of our decision to resign from the Peoples Democratic Party with effect from today, December 16, 2006.

"We have reached this decision in view of what we consider to be traits and developments in the recent past which have so denatured the party we formed, that we can no longer recognise it.

"Among these are several actions totally contemptuous of the party's and the Nigerian Constitution and the Courts, including tendentious manoeverings all aimed at serving a particular and sometimes personal interests.

Since our views on democracy and governance no longer coincide, we cannot continue to co-habit under the same umbrella. In their words "Since our views on democracy and governance no longer coincide, we cannot continue to co-habit under the same umbrella. We thank you and members of the National Executive Committee. We shall immediately inform your state and ward wings accordingly.

Saturday Independent had reported exclusively last Thursday that there were moves to expel Ogbeh, Rimi, Solomon Lar and some other members from the party. The resignation may be a preemptive measure to forestall the action

This is cache, read story here