Jonathan, others intervene in Tukur, PDP NWC’s rift

National Chairman of the party, Dr. Bamanga Tukur
| credits: File copy

President Goodluck Jonathan; President of the Senate, David Mark; and Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwwal, on Wednesday held a closed door session with warring members of the National Working Committee of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party with a view to resolving their disagreement.

The NWC is currently divided over the crisis rocking the party’s Adamawa State chapter, home state of the National Chairman, Dr. Bamanga Tukur.

Ten of the 12 members of the party’s NWC had on Tuesday disowned Tukur’s action on the crisis rocking the state chapter.

The NWC members led by the party’s Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Jaja, said ongoing local government and ward congresses in the state were not authorised by the NWC.

They also restored the Executive Committee of the party in the state, which was sacked by the NWC on October 17, 2012.

But on Wednesday, Jonathan and the two leaders of the National Assembly met with the feuding party chiefs.

Jaja; the party’s National Secretary, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; the National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh; and National Women Leader, Kema Chikwe, among others attended the meeting with Tukur leading the delegation.

A former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana; a chief of the party, Chief Tony Anenih; and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Canada, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, were among party elders who attended the reconciliation meeting that lasted about two hours.

At the end of the meeting, Tukur told State House correspondents that the disagreement  had been resolved.

He said, “PDP NWC is the first family of the PDP. I can assure that like any other family, there may be disagreements but based on principle, not disagreement for anything. We have resolved all our differences.

“Some differences, you will bring them to light, examine them and find out why there has been disagreement and you go back and do what you believe is right.”

Tukur had, earlier on Wednesday released documents on the controversial congresses in the Adamawa State chapter of the party.

The documents faulted the stance of 10 members of the NWC led by Jaja who, on Tuesday, said the ongoing local government and ward congresses in the state were not authorised by the NWC.

The first document is a letter dated December 5, 2012 and addressed to Tukur. The letter, signed by the National Organising Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha, detailed the action plan by the caretaker committee of the party in the state for the party’s congress in the state.

The letter read in part, “Please find attached a copy of the letter by our great party’s caretaker committee for Adamawa State dated December 3, 2012, and re-scheduling chapter congresses for the state.

“You may wish to give anticipatory approval pending the formal ratification by the National Working Committee.”

Mustapha went ahead to detail the activities to include Ward Congresses (December 27), Appeal on Ward Congresses (December 28), Local Government Congresses (January 3), Appeal on local government congresses (January 5), State congress (January 8) and Appeals on state congress (January 10).

Tukur approved the Action Plan as submitted by Mustapha.

The following day, Mustapha wrote a letter to the party’s caretaker chairman in the state, conveying the approval of the NWC for holding the congresses.

He wrote, “I write to inform you that the National Working Committee of our great party has approved the time-table for the chapter congresses in Adamawa State.

“In adherence to the stipulations of Section 85 of the Electoral Act 2010, the Independent National Electoral Commission has accordingly been notified of these congresses.”

A copy of the letter was sent to the office of the National Vice-Chairman of the party in North-East.

In his letter to the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, dated December 5, Mustapha informed the electoral body of the dates of the congresses.

He said, “In keeping with the provisions of Section 87 of the Electoral Act 2010, we write to inform the Independent National Electoral Commission that the National Working Committee of our great party has approved the conduct of the party’s congresses in Adamawa State, sequel to the upcoming party congresses in the state.”

“Accordingly, INEC is hereby notified of these congresses.”

A source close to Tukur wondered why the NWC members were moving against Tukur, saying the 10 NWC members would be shocked that “if Tukur is forced out of office, others will follow him.”