Governors: Tukur must go ; Tukur: I will not quit

Governors are insisting that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Bamanga Tukur must go.

Alhaji Tukur’s election has been upheld by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but some aggrieved governors are plotting to pass a vote-of-no confidence on him at the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting tomorrow.

Some of the governors are joined by members of the G-84, including 24 ex-officio, 37 state chairmen and some former leaders of the party.

But some forces in the Presidency are out to protect Tukur at the NEC meeting – in line with their agenda to secure the 2015 presidential ticket of the party for President Goodluck Jonathan.

A meeting of the National Caucus to save Tukur was on last night in Abuja.

The forces in the Presidency have also launched a counter-plot to stop Deputy National Chairman Dr. Sam Jaja from being returned at the National Convention because he is a loyalist of Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who is not in sinc with the party leadership and President Jonathan.

Some of the aggrieved governors and G-84 members met yesterday, insisting that a vote of no confidence be passed on Tukur at the NEC meeting on Thursday.

Some aggrieved stakeholders also last night started circulating text messages to NEC members on why Tukur should be asked to step aside.

A source said: “The aggrieved PDP governors want to take advantage of the NEC meeting to technically pass a vote of no confidence on Tukur. The PDP National Chairman knew of the plot all along and that was why he refused to call for NEC meeting since July 2012.

“The aggrieved governors and G-84 members believe that the party is already divided and there is no way Tukur can lead it to victory in 2015.”

But some power brokers in the Presidency, the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Chief Godswill Akpabio and Governor Jonah Jang have decided to defend Tukur.

Their argument, it was learnt, is that some governors are against Tukur because he is enforcing discipline.

“They also feel that the vote-of-no—confidence is being targeted at President Goodluck Jonathan to show that he has lost out in the party,” said the source.

Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko is among those who have called for Tukur’s ouster, saying he is running the party as his private estate.

“The National Caucus of the party was called at the Presidential Villa to look at issues and how to salvage the cracks in the party.

“Definitely, a battle line is drawn between pro and anti-Tukur forces at the NEC meeting. If Tukur survives, he would have crossed a major hurdle.”

The text message, signed by the Coordinator of PDP Stakeholders Forum, Mr. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, reads in part: “We wish to urge great PDP NEC members as they finally gather on Thursday to ensure that all the actions of Tukur’s NWC are reversed.

“The crack in the wall of PDP has vindicated our struggle/ stand over the years…”

There were indications last night that only nine members of the NWC might face fresh election at the forthcoming mini-National Convention, which is yet to have a date.

Out of 16 NWC members, INEC in March, 2012 declared the election of four as valid.

They are Tukur; the sacked National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; the removed National Auditor, Chief Bode Mustapha and the Financial Secretary, Mr Bolaji Anani.

It was also learnt that three others have had legal issues over their election resolved.

A party leader said: “By our records, only nine NWC members will face fresh election at the forthcoming mini-convention.

“These affected members would have to resign to seek a fresh mandate. We agreed on this at our session with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Villa.”

The source confirmed that the affected nine NWC members are seeking automatic return to office.

“I think the only challenge is about the Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Jaja, whom forces in the presidency will not want back because he was a nominee of Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi,” the source said, adding:

“With the party structure hijacked from Amaechi and given to a faction, Sam Jaja might not be fielded for the office again.

“This can also attract litigation because INEC did not say go and change candidates, but it said the affected officers should face due process in their election.”