Despite claims that Nigeria’s embattled National chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bamanga Tukur had handed President Goodluck Jonathan his resignation letter, there was a twist in the ensuing episode on Wednesday, when Tukur insisted that he is still chairman as he is yet to resign from his position.
Reports say that Tukur, who had reportedly bowed to superior pressure from within his split-party, made a surprise appearance at the party’s Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting in Abuja today (Wednesday), saying he has not resigned his position.
Alhaji Tukur who walked into the Banquet hall of the Presidential villa at about 7:50 with former chairman of the party, Vincent Ogbulafor, said “I have not resigned. I am not somebody that would resign and you would not know. I have not resigned.”
But Tukur’s deputy, Prince Uche Secondus chaired the meeting which was attended by the National Organising Secretary, Abubakar Mustapha; National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh; National Auditor, Adewole Adeyanju; National Secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo; National Financial Secretary, Elder Bolaji Anani; National Woman Leader, Mrs Kema Chikwe; National Legal Adviser, Victor Kwom; and National Youth leader, Abdullahi MaiBasira.
In the same vein, a statement by Tukur’s Senior Media Assistant on Media, Mr. Oliver Okpala, had earlier debunked claims which dotted the media that his boss has tendered his resignation letter.
The statement said, “Be informed that contrary to the report making waves in the internet and other social media, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has not tendered any resignation letter to any person or quarter as the National Chairman of the Party.
“Please disregard any information or report in this regard since the National Chairman is busy fashioning out new structures and areas of taking the party to greater heights.”
What Article 45(1, 2) of the 2012 amended constitution of PDP says:
Article 45 (1) : “If a National Officer of the Party is removed or resigns from office, he shall immediately hand over to the National Secretary all records, files and other properties of the party in his or her possession.”
Sub-section 2: “ in the case of the National Chairman, he shall hand over to the Deputy National Chairman who shall, without prejudice to Section. 45(6) of this Constitution, act as the National Chairman pending the election of a replacement.”
