The storm is not over for the National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, as governors of the party have started fresh moves to remove him from office.
It was gathered on Friday that shortly after the party’s National Executive Council’s meeting on Thursday, the governors started to closely monitor Tukur with the aim of compiling his “other sins.”
The national chairman had on Thursday survived the plan to remove him at the NEC meeting, where 20 officials of the party resigned.
But it was gathered that the governors’ fresh battle for his removal, which began after the NEC meeting, would come to a climax at the party’s mini-national convention on July 15, when 17 officials would be elected.
It was learnt that as part of the plot against Tukur, the governors led by the factional Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rotimi Amaechi, had begun discreet fresh moves to ensure that the PDP chairman resigned before the July 15 national convention.
The NGF has been divided into two factions — the Amaechi faction and another led by the Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang.
Investigations showed that the pro-Amaechi governors hinged their fresh plot against Tukur on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s report, which led to the resignation of the 20 party officials.
The report, which invalidated elections of 12 members of the National Working Committee, had also stated that the committee was not properly constituted.
A governor from the North-West, who spoke in confidence, said that since the report stated that NWC was not properly constituted, all its members, including Tukur should have resigned.
Although Tukur was not among the 12 officials, investigations showed that the governors were relying on the fact that at last year’s convention, he (Tukur) was the only candidate that contested his position.
The INEC, had in the report, said, “The mode of election adopted for single candidates was not in accordance with the mode of election stipulated in paragraph 6.5 (i) of the guidelines for the conduct of the year 2012 congresses and national convention and therefore not acceptable to the commission.”
The governor said, “In the next few days, there may be court cases that will force Tukur to resign. The case will be hinged on the fact that nobody contested against him.”
It was also gathered that the governors had not forgiven Tukur for the harsh treatment meted out to their two colleagues — Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers).
The two governors were suspended by the party over what it described as indiscipline.
While Wamakko has been recalled, Amaechi is still on suspension.
Investigations in Abuja, on Friday indicated that the governors, who felt slighted by Tukur’s handling of the party had yet to forgive him.
A source within the anti-Tukur camp, who confided in one of our correspondents, said what happened on Thursday was simply “a postponement of the evil day.”
The source said, “Do not be deceived by all the backslapping and talk of solidarity. Those opposed to Tukur’s continued stay in office are not giving up.
“In warfare, the element of surprise is key to the success of any battle. Even among those who claim to support him today will ditch him when the time is ripe.
“Every discerning member of the party knows that his leadership is leading the party nowhere.
“If the President believes that risking a further deterioration of relations between him and the governors is what’s best for the party, good luck to him.
“There is a growing consensus among the governors that the continued stay of Tukur has put every talk of reconciliation on hold.”
He further explained that other opportunities would present themselves in the coming months.
“What people seem to forget is that 2015 is still two years away and there is still a lot of room to manoeuvre. You just wait and see.”
When contacted, the Special Assistant (Media) to the National Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Oliva Okpalla, said Tukur would stay till the end of his tenure.
He said, “As far as we are concerned, Dr. Bamanga Tukur is the National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party nothing else. Like you know, INEC approved his chairmanship.
“He was not among the ones whose elections were flawed. Therefore, he has to stay until the expiration of his tenure.
“You have seen the outcome of the whole event that he was endorsed by the National Executive Committee which is the highest organ of the party to go ahead and then they brought a few people to fill the positions of those members who resigned because their elections were flawed because of some irregularities during the convention as stated by INEC.
“As far as the chairman is concerned, he is in charge. He is the formidable chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, there is no acrimony, there is no rancour. PDP is a more united family now.
Also, a member of the mini-convention committee, Chief Bayo Dayo, ruled out any plot against Tukur.
He said, “There can never be any plot against the chairman now. The party is now settled. Whoever is not satisfied with the party should go to the appropriate quarters and we will attend to him.”
According to him, there are bound to be differences in a political party, particularly a big one like the PDP.
Dayo, who is also the PDP chairman in Ogun State, said, “Our party is governed by the rule of law. When INEC said there were various mistakes in our last convention, we have no choice but to have a mini-convention again to rectify all the mistakes that were made last year.”
He explained that if the party did not rectify the mistakes, its candidates in any election could be disqualified.
Dayo said, “A lot of people are talking about the chairman. Nobody is perfect. The chairman can make some mistakes. He is an elderly man. He has the knowledge. He has the experience.
“In a very large party, there are bound to be differences. Some people were aggrieved somehow. The leadership spoke with all of them and everything went peacefully. It was one of the most peaceful NEC meetings we have ever had.”
The mini-convention committee member faulted the call for Tukur’s resignation.
He said that the INEC report, which faulted the election of 12 NWC members, indicated that of the chairman was alright.