30 PDP State Chairmen Demand Tukur’s Sack …As Caucus Meeting Adjourns Till Today

These are definitely not the best of times for the embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, as 30 chairmen of the state chapters of the party yesterday passed a vote of no confidence on him, our correspondent  reports.
The chairmen, who met in Abuja yesterday  demanded for the sack of Tukur with immediate effect..
The chairmen according to one of those at the meeting, have communicated their decision to the Presidency, the National Executive Committee of the party, the National Working Committee and the PDP Governors Forum.
It was learnt that out of the remaining six party chairmen from the 36 states, three were ineligible to vote as they are chairmen of caretaker committees while the other three sent in their apologies for their absence from the meeting.
Impeccable sources told newsmen that the chairmen met in Utako District of Abuja yesterday evening.
The meeting was said to have ended at about 11pm.
The chairmen, acceding to one of those at the meeting, have communicated their decision to the Presidency, the National Executive Committee of the party, the National Working Committee and the PDP Governors’ Forum.
The position of the chairmen was made known a few minutes after a caucus meeting of the PDP was adjourned at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The caucus meeting is due to continue on Wednesday at 6pm, while the party’s NEC will meet on Thursday in Abuja.
Tukur has had a crisis of confidence to cope with since last year, with some top members of the party demanding for his resignation as a condition for the return of peace to the party.
Meanwhile, some stakeholders of the party, especially governors elected on the platform of the PDP, are insisting that Tukur must leave as Chairman in the bid to resolve the crisis that had engulfed the party in the last one year
The caucus meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party, which commenced on Tuesday evening adjourned abruptly at about 11pm, our correspondent report.
It is now to reconvene at 6pm today.
The Vice President, Architect Namadi Sambo, confirmed the adjournment of the meeting to newsmen late on Tuesday.
The meeting, which is in the main to discuss the fate of the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, was quite tense.
Some stakeholders of the party, especially governors elected on the platform of the PDP, are insisting that Tukur must leave as chairman in the bid to resolve the crisis that had engulfed the party in the last one year.
As was reported yesterday evening, Tukur arrived earlier than other members of the caucus and met with President Goodluck Jonathan.
The meeting is coming ahead of the National Executive Committee meeting of the PDP, scheduled to hold in Abuja on Thursday.
The thinking in the party is that Tukur could be forced to resign at the meeting on Thursday.
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.

Chief of Staff ,Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha (middle), answering questions from Chairman Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Igwe Paulinus Nwagu, and Senator Hadi Serika (member), during their visit to Port Harcourt, yesterday.