CONFUSION
reigned in the polity yesterday, over whether or not Alhaji Bamanga Tukur was
still the National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). One
account said he had given his resignation letter to President Goodluck
Jonathan, which the President was expected to read to members of the National
Caucus, that reconvened at 6 pm at the Presidential Villa.
The National Caucus
meeting was planned to dovetail into the Board of Trustees, BoT, meeting last
night.
As an
indication that Tukur had quit, the weekly Wednesday National Working Committee
(NWC) meeting, yesterday, was chaired by Deputy National Chairman, Prince
Uche Secondus with other members in attendance. The NWC meeting, which took
place at the office of the Deputy National Chairman lasted from 2 pm to 4.30 pm
when the members drove out immediately to the meeting of the National Caucus at
the Presidential Villa, it was gathered.
Those who
attended included the National Organising Secretary, Abubakar Mustapha;
National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh; National Auditor, Adewole
Adeyanju; National Secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo; National Financial
Secretary, Elder Bolaji Anani; National Woman Leader, Mrs Kema Chikwe; National
Legal Adviser, Victor Kwom; and National Youth leader, Abdullahi MaiBasira.
I have
not resigned — Tukur
As
members were waiting for President Jonathan to read Tukur’s resignation letter,
the embattled chairman made a surprise appearance at the Board of Trustees
meeting in Abuja, saying he had not resigned.
Alhaji
Tukur, who walked into the Banquet hall of the Presidential villa at about 7:50
PM said he was not the sort of person that would resign in secret.
The PDP
chairman, who walked in with former chairman of the party, Prince Vincent
Ogbulafor told State House Correspondents that the rumour of his resignation
was not true.
“I have
not resigned. I am not somebody that would resign and you would not know. I
have not resigned,” he said curtly before walking into the hall where the
meeting of the BOT was to hold.
Before
the dramatic twist, a source told Vanguard that Tukur had submitted his letter
of resignation to the leader of the party, President Jonathan, who was
expected to read the letter to members of the National Caucus, which was to
lead to the BoT meeting, which was in progress at press time.
A NEC
member told Vanguard yesterday that should Tukur sustain his reluctance to
voluntarily step down, the issue will be thrashed out in today’s NEC meeting.
“If Tukur had resigned yesterday, today’s NEC would have been for mere
ratification,” he said.
A source
told Vanguard that Prince Secondus called for the agenda of today’s NEC meeting
where he made some corrections which may not be unconnected to the perceived
resignation of Tukur, meaning that Secondus will take charge at today’s
meeting.
A member
of NWC who spoke with Vanguard said: “You know that the arrangement before now
was to hold NEC meeting after the National Caucus and BoT meetings. We now have
to look at the possibility of changing the agenda of the NEC meeting. If he has
truly resigned, it means that issues like moving motions for removal of
chairman or any other person would be stepped down.”
Members
of the NWC also vowed to suspend Tukur and thereafter expel him from the
party if he failed to resign as arranged.
At the
national caucus meeting, President Jonathan was also said to have pleaded with
members to save Tukur and tolerate him till the mini-convention of the party in
March this year.
However,
sources told Vanguard that the governors, National Assembly members and other
members of National caucus kicked against it, insisting that Tukur must go.
It was
further said that earlier at the Tuesday meeting, two governors stayed
with the chairmen of the PDP in the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory,
Abuja at the 3J Hotel, by Chida Hotel, Utako to ensure that they never changed
their minds on the vote of no confidence passed on Tukur. The state chairmen
eventually submitted their report to President Jonathan on why Tukur must go
late on Tuesday.
What the
party constitution says
Meanwhile,
according to Article 45(1, 2) of the 2012 amended constitution of PDP, the
Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus will step into the shoes of
Alhaji Tukur if he quits until the party conducts an election for a
replacement.
Article
45 (1) of the constitution reads: “If a National Officer of the Party is
removed or resigns from office, he shall immediately hand over to the National
Secretary all records, files and other properties of the party in his or her
possession.”
Sub-section
2 also reads, “ in the case of the National Chairman, he shall hand over to the
Deputy National Chairman who shall, without prejudice to Section. 45(6) of this
Constitution, act as the National Chairman pending the election of a
replacement.”
Babayo,
Mu’azu, Adamu in line to succeed Tukur
Meanwhile,
three names are being touted as possible replacements for Tukur. They include
former Acting National Secretary, Dr. Musa Babayo; former Bauchi State
Governor, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, all from Bauchi State and former Nigeria
Ambassador to the United States, Alhaji Hassan Adamu, Wakili Adamawa.
Vanguard.
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