PDP elders in Akwa Ibom back Tukur, say ‘only party convention can oust him’

Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, PDP National Chairman

Uyo Senatorial District Elders Forum of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned attempts to remove the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, from office without recourse to due process, as provided for in the party constitution.
A statement in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, by the Chairman of the forum, Otuekong Sunny Jackson Udo, said the aim of those fighting Tukur is to make Goodluck Jonathan a lame duck President next year by denying him the party nomination.

He described the “scheming to force Tukur out of office without the mandate of the national convention as illegal, undemocratic and unacceptable to the silent majority of loyal members of the party,” adding that the forum was speaking for the silent majority in the PDP.

Udo said Tukur was elected at a national convention and could be removed only by a vote of party members at another convention.

The forum said: “Removing the national chairman from office on bogus charges through a gang up will set a dangerous precedent, which can harm the party in the run up to the next national election.”

It added: “Allowing Tukur to be removed will lead to a copycat treatment for future chairmen and other leaders of the party by a few powerful individuals, who may always want to impose their will on the party through undemocratic means.”

The forum demands to know from Tukur’s detractors, what the national chairman has done against the interest of the party, which warrants the gang up by people with hidden agenda, who are against the interest of the party.

It urged “party members in the six geopolitical zones to rise up and stop a few powerful people in the PDP from victimising leaders, whose only offence is their desire to enforce discipline and democracy in the party.”

Culled from The Nation newspaper