nPDP: The struggle is on despite our presence at APC convention

New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), a bloc of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says its presence at the national convention of the ruling party is not a sign that its grievances have been addressed.

Kawu Baraje, leader of the group; Senate President Bukola Saraki; Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of representatives, who are top nPDP members, attended the convention at Eagle Square, Abuja.

But in a statement issued after leaving the venue, the nPDP said the issues it raised were still unattended to.

It explained that its presence at the convention was to show its loyalty to the party.

“We still believe that our loyalty should be demonstrated, that is why we attended the convention,” the statement read.

“The convention is on going now, despite the fact that there are so many litigation in the court against the party arising from parallel primaries in over 18 states of the federation.

“The fact that we were able to attend the APC convention and the convention is going on well, is not an interpretation that the suffering of the masses had been alleviated and is not an answer that the security in the country which has been seriously jeopardised is being addressed.

“We want to appreciate Nigerians and our supporters and we want to let them know that our struggle is still on course and until the party addresses some the major areas of concerns that will make easy for Nigerians we remain undoubted.”

In May, the group demanded to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari but the president later called its bluff, referring the bloc to his deputy.

nPDP had alleged that  it was sidelined despite teaming up with the APC to win in 2015, the ruling party has denied the allegation.