{"id":5225,"date":"2013-06-20T00:28:18","date_gmt":"2013-06-20T00:28:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disnaija.com\/nigerian-newspapers\/tukurs-fate-shaky-as-eight-nwc-members-resign\/"},"modified":"2013-06-20T00:28:18","modified_gmt":"2013-06-20T00:28:18","slug":"tukurs-fate-shaky-as-eight-nwc-members-resign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disnaija.com\/tukurs-fate-shaky-as-eight-nwc-members-resign\/","title":{"rendered":"Tukur\u2019s fate shaky as eight NWC members resign"},"content":{"rendered":"
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After almost 24 hours of horse-trading, loyalists of President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday took a break from their battle to save Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Bamanga Tukur\u2019s job.<\/p>\n

The pro-Jonathan camp, led by the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Akwa Ibom Governor Godswill Akpabio, plans to frustrate a plot by some aggrieved governors to raise a vote-of-no confidence against Tukur at today\u2019s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the ruling party.<\/p>\n

Anti-Tukur governors yesterday held consultations on how to either get the National Chairman out or boycott the NEC, if the conduct of the meeting will not be \u201cdemocratic\u201d.<\/p>\n

Eight members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and eight Deputy National officers yesterday resigned from office to face a fresh election at the mini-National Convention of the party on July 15<\/p>\n

According to sources, some members of the National Caucus are opposed to Tukur\u2019s removal.<\/p>\n

They were said to have advised President Goodluck Jonathan against playing into the hands of the governors who are planning to hijack the party structure for the 2015 poll.<\/p>\n

It was also learnt that Caucus members opted for calling Tukur to order than outright removal because it would not help the party\u2019s unity.<\/p>\n

Some members of the National Caucus reportedly queried the rationale for removing Tukur when he is not listed among those whose election was invalidated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).<\/p>\n

INEC on April 8, 2013 nullified the election of 12 of the 16 NWC members.<\/p>\n

The lucky four, whose election followed due process, are Tukur; the sacked National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; the removed National Auditor, Chief Bode Mustapha; and the Financial Secretary, Elder Bolaji Anani.<\/p>\n

But there were fears in the Presidency\u2019s camp that some governors and aggrieved members of the G-84(comprising state chairmen and secretaries) might spring a surprise at the NEC meeting.<\/p>\n

The anxiety prompted a series of meetings with members of the G-84 by Akpabio, who canvassed the need to preserve the party\u2019s unity by retaining Tukur.<\/p>\n

A source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said: \u201cThe Presidency and its loyalists (including some G-16 governors in PDP) and some National Caucus members are opposed to the removal of Tukur.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey believe the crisis in the party could be resolved if Tukur\u2019s alleged excesses are curbed. These infractions border mostly on disrespect for the PDP Constitution.<\/p>\n

Some party leaders see Tukur\u2019s removal as a slight on President Jonathan, who supported him to become the national chairman.<\/p>\n

Jonathan\u2019s loyalist are said to have prevailed on him to use the NEC meeting to actually determine states that are loyal or not to him as the party\u2019s national leader .<\/p>\n

Another source added that if there is any fear on the part of the Presidency, it is about the likelihood of the aggrieved governors and G-84 members springing a surprise with a vote-of-no-confidence on Tukur.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe aggrieved governors and the G-84 members have been meeting, amid the fear that a NEC member can raise a vote-of-no confidence against Tukur.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe outlook is such that anything could happen at the NEC meeting. Both pro and anti-Tukur groups are not leaving things to chances,\u201d the source said.<\/p>\n

The PDP Stakeholders Forum insisted on Tukur\u2019s exit in a pre-NEC message to members last night.<\/p>\n

The message, signed by the Coordinator of the Forum, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, reads: \u201cWe have confirmed the news of the official resignation of eight members of the PDP NWC and eight deputy national officers few hours ago. The officials whose elections were faulted by INEC have signed their resignation letters, which will take effect from tomorrow after the NEC meeting.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we salute the courage and loyalty of these men and women, we wish to condemn the plan of Tukur to challenge NEC when he has lost all political grounds to remain in office.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe NEC must be bold enough to sack Tukur if the PDP must move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Of the 36 states and the FCT, Tukur is believed to have the backing of 19, those against him are 13 and undecided or divided states are five.<\/p>\n

The Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting at the Presidential Villa last night may determine the direction of the NEC meeting.<\/p>\n

A party leader added: \u201cI know things may still take shape before the NEC meeting. We are all awaiting the outcome of the BoT session.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Posted in Nigerian Newspapers. <\/a>A DisNaija.Com<\/a> network.<\/p>\n

Source: The Nation Newspaper<\/p>\n

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