By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

Former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Prince Chibudom Nwuche, has dismissed reports of the factionalisation of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, saying that the walkout on the President during the last PDP convention was an insult on Nigerians.

Nwuche, in an interview, also dismissed the famed influence of the governors, saying that their powers in the party had been overstated.

Nwuche, who served as deputy national chairman in the immediate past caretaker committee of the party, said: ”As far as I am concerned, there is no faction in PDP because Nigerians were witnesses to the very colourful and massively attended convention where every state in Nigeria was represented.

”It was covered live on television and we had free and transparent primaries that began at 10.am, till almost midnight. Before we dispersed, we elected officials in a free and fair manner before the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and other observers as well. So, if a few people felt disgruntled and decided to create an impression of a split by walking out, I think it is not consequential.

”In a family as big as ours, if certain persons walk out, even though they may be governors for that matter, to me, it doesn’t affect the family because it’s a big family. PDP is a party that has come to stay. I want to also caution that those who don’t respect the President are showing disdain for Nigerians. You cannot have the President of a country seated in a convention and you walk out. That was a bad behaviour and Nigerians must tell them off.

“So, I don’t believe that we have a faction. We have disagreements which the party in its usual manner will solve and people should understand that PDP has come to stay. That is why those that are aggrieved do not want to leave the party and they want to carry the same name again if possible.”