The Peoples Democratic Party
governors are set to clash over the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Bamanga
Tukur, as the party’s National Executive Committee meets in Abuja
on Thursday.
It was gathered on Tuesday that
governors in the Jang faction of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum were bent
on ensuring that Tukur retained his job. However, those
backing the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, as the NGF
chairman, our correspondents gathered, might at the meeting
table alleged constitutional breaches by the PDP chairman as a prelude to
getting him booted out of office.
A pro-Jang governor, who
confided in one of our correspondents said his group
would resist any attempt to remove Tukur during the meeting.
He said, “We have told the President
(Dr. Goodluck Jonathan) that he should not listen to those
calling for Tukur’s removal. We know that the gameplan of some of our
colleagues is to remove the man so that they can install their lackey as
chairman.”
But a pro-Amaechi governor said,
“There is no way we will hold a NEC meeting and not raise the issue of
constitutional violations against the chairman. We will pass a vote –of- no-
confidence in the man and call for his resignation.”
In a telephone interview with one of
our correspondents, Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako,
insisted that Tukur should abide by the party’s constitution.
Nyako, who spoke through his Director
of Press, Ahmad Sajo, said, “What we are saying is that he should run the party
with justice, fairness and harmony. He should run the party with equity.
He should control the crises rocking the party.
“We are saying he should create
a level playing field for everybody in the party. If that had been
created, there would not be crises in the party all over the
country.”
When contacted, the Plateau State
Commissioner for Information, Mr. Yijap Abraham said, “Governor Jang is a team
player; he remains committed to playing the role that produces the greatest
good for Plateau, the PDP and the nation.”
The PDP Interim National
Publicity, Dr. Aderemi Akintoye, announced the NEC meeting through a
circular in Abuja on Tuesday.
The circular reads, “Emergency NEC
meeting to hold Thursday, August 22 by 2pm. Members are advised to be
punctual.”
It however did not include the
agenda of the meeting.
NEC membership includes the
President, NWC officials, governors, state chairmen of the party and the Board
of Trustees members.
BOT members have no voting power
in NEC.
The committee, at its last meeting in
Abuja on June 20 had asked eight members of the NWC to resign.They
were the Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Jaja; the National Organising
Secretary, Abubakar Mustapha; the National Youth Leader, Mr. Garba Chima;
the Acting National Secretary, Mr. Solomon Onwe; the Woman Leader, Mrs.
Kema Chikwe; the National Legal Adviser, Victor Kwom; the National Publicity
Secretary, Mr. Olisa Metuh; and the National Treasurer, Bala Kaoje.
Apart from the eight national
officers, 12 others , who were either deputies or ex-officio
members, also resigned.
Their resignations followed a
report by the Independent National Electoral Commission, which declared the way
they emerged at the 2012 national convention, undemocratic.
NEC, had at its last meeting,
fixed the party’s mini-convention for July 21, 2013.
The Sunday PUNCH had exclusively
reported on August 18 that Jonathan and some of his close aides met
last week over Tukur.
The PUNCH had also reported on
Monday that the national chairman had met with the President as part of efforts
to retain his job.
Tukur said on Monday that he
was not under pressure to resign.
In an electronic mail, he said, “Let
me reiterate that I am not resigning and I have no intention of doing so
as an elected National Chairman of the PDP.”
Besides, Tukur’s issue, it was
gathered that NEC would, at the meeting deliberate on the crises in the
PDP and assess the reconciliatory efforts of its
National Working Committee.
One of such crises is that of
the South -West. There is currently an injunction
by an Osogbo High Court stopping the special congress of the PDP
scheduled to hold in the zone this weekend.
The PDP NEC will also strategise on
the upcoming governorship election in Anambra and Ekiti states.
The party’s stakeholders,
including the President and the governors, may also review the
political developments in the party with a view to positioning it for the 2015
general elections.
Other issue that our
correspondents learnt would be discussed is the registration of the All
Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Movement.
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Politics