More facts have merged from the caucus meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday.
Impeccable sources at the meeting told The Eagle Online that the embattled National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has agreed to resign.
This was after a lot of pressure from embittered members of the caucus, especially state governors, over the role Tukur played in the crisis plaguing the party.
The crisis has led to the exit of five governors elected on the platform of the party.
The governors have defected to the opposition All Progressives Congress.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Tukur was said to have initially resisted the move to force him to resign.
Like his position earlier in the day when he issued a press statement, Tukur was reported to have said he would not quit under pressure.
Those opposed to him were said to have told him in plain terms that it is either he quits before Thursday’s National Executive Committee meeting of the party or he would be disgraced out.
After what appeared to be a long drawn argument, a 30 minutes break was granted to enable some members of the caucus prevail on Tukur to resign.
This appeared to work as Tukur, after the break, agreed to step down as the national chairman of the PDP.
He is expected to bring his letter of resignation to the Presidential Villa on Wednesday (today) when the caucus meeting reconvenes.
A source told The Eagle Online: “What we are going to do at the continuation of the caucus meeting is to look at the tone of the letter and decide whether to accept it as presented or request for another one.
“But certainly, the chairman is gone.
“He has agreed to tender his resignation so that he is not disgraced out of the party.
“Those who own the party have spoken yet the man remains adamant and wants to continue where he is no longer wanted.”
One of the conditions given by the aggrieved governors who eventually defected to the APC for peace to reign in the PDP was for Tukur to quit as the chairman.
The governors who defected were Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State, Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State, Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State and Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State.
Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, the Vice President, Architect Namadi Sambo, confirmed the adjournment of the caucus meeting.
The meeting is now to reconvene at 6pm on Wednesday.
The National Executive Committee of the PDP will then meet on Thursday.
As was reported on Tuesday evening, Tukur arrived earlier than other members of the caucus and met with President Goodluck Jonathan before the meeting.
Among those who attended Tuesday’s meeting apart from Jonathan, Sambo and Tukur were Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State; Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State; the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih; The Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Mulikat Adeola-Akande; former National Chairman, Ahmadu Ali; Deputy National Chairman, Uche Secondus; National Woman Leader, Kema Chikwe; former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Bode George; the Secretary, Board of Trustees, Alhaji Walid Jubril; the Minister of Transport, Idris Umar; the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Bello Adoke; and the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Also in attendance are the Secretary to the government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; the President of the Senate, Seantor David Mark; the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; the Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba; the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal; and his Deputy, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha.
Trending
- Glo to equip OYRTMA with modern traffic technologies
- Naira recovery: Tinubu, Cardoso deserve kudos — MURIC
- Ondo 2024: Large turnout, security at APC primary voting centres in Okitipupa
- Man sets himself on fire outside court during Trump trial
- Yahaya Bello: Tread softly, Arewa group tells EFCC
- Ondo 2024: 171,922 accredited for APC primaries
- Intimate Affairs: Assisted fatherhood, by Funke Egbemode
- NGE, UNICEF sign MoU to boost advocacy for children’s rights