It was a mixture of confusion and uncertainty over the future of the embattled National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bamanga Tukur on Wednesday night.
Earlier in the day, a meeting of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) was held at the Wadata House headquarters of the party but presided over by the National Deputy Chairman, Uche Secondus.
Mr. Tukur was absent at the meeting, fueling speculation that he may have resigned. But, shortly after the NWC meeting ended, the chairman surface at the State House and held a brief meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan.
However, Mr. Tukur did not also attend the reconvened meeting of the National Caucus held at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The caucus meeting was presided over by President Jonathan and attended by all members of the NWC and PDP governors. This further heightened speculation that he may have bowed out.
Present at the caucus meeting were Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, BoT chairman, Tony Anenih, former national chairman, Ahmadu Ali, Principla Officers of the Senate and House of Representatives.
Surprisingly, the embattled chairman surfaced at the Board of Trustees meeting (BoT) that followed the caucus meeting.
On arrival, he was approached by State House correspondents and he had this to say, “If I have resigned you will know. I am not somebody that will resign and you will not know”.
But, after the BoT meeting, Mr. Tukur declined to speak when asked if he was still the PDP chairman. He quietly walked out.
However, the BoT chairman, Tony Anenih offered to speak but he was not categorical on the real position of Mr. Tukur.
He said about the meeting, “It was very peaceful and we are very happy. Asked about the fate of the national chairman, Anenih said, “He attended BoT meeting as the national chairman”.
When asked further if he left the meeting as a former national chairman, he said “I believe he left as the national chairman”.
At an emergency meeting of the PDP National Caucus held Tuesday night at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, party stalwarts were said to have bluntly asked Mr. Tukur to resign so that the party could chart a new way forward ahead of the 2015 general election.
Prompt News Online gathered that before the meeting adjourned to reconvene on Wednesday, Mr. Tukur was said to have agreed to turn in his resignation letter.
The party’s National Executive Council (NEC) is billed to meet Thursday at Wadata House. It is believed there will be a clearer picture on the fate of the embattled national chairman at the end of the NEC meeting.
