PDP crisis: Tukur may be removed

Indications have emerged that the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, may be removed this week to pave the way for a permanent solution to the leadership crisis rocking the party.
A highly placed source within the party told The Eagle Online on Sunday night that sequel to the pronouncement of the court that the congresses that produced the leadership of the party were null and void, which led to the removal of some national officers, it had become apparent that steps needed to be taken to correct the anomaly.
It was the court judgment that resulted in the removal of a former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, as the National Secretary of the party and some other top notch of the PDP.
The crisis in the party, apart from the one generated by the controversial Nigeria Governors’ Forum election, has resulted in the call for the sack of Tukur also, as it was the same controversial primaries that produced all the national officers.
A source within the party said a definite position would be taken this week on the issue before the Independent National Electoral Commission would wield the big stick.
The source said there were two options before the party: The first is to challenge the court pronouncement or hold another convention that would be preceded by fresh primaries.
The highly placed source said: “We have been meeting over this issue all weekend.
“And the series of meetings will continue this week.
“Most of us directing the affairs of the party, especially the governors, are already in Abuja and have been meeting and will still meet this week.
“The issue of the party is one of the crucial issues that would be discussed with President Goodluck Jonathan when the PDP governors meet him this week.
“And it is not unlikely that we sacrifice the national chairman in order to move forward.
“The reason is this: if we opt to challenge the position of the court, we know the way things are with the judicial process.
“This could take another two to three years to resolve.
“So why waste precious time when the shorter and better option of removing the national chairman is there and we hold another national convention?”
The source, however, said that the options are still open though the most likely to be adopted would be the removal of Tukur.