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Tag: NEC

  • I remain authentic PDP national secretary, says Oyinlola

    I remain authentic PDP national secretary, says Oyinlola

    Former Osun State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has warned that no one should parade himself as the national secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said he remained the only authentic secretary .

    At a rally organised by the PDP in Osun Central in Okuku, his home town, Oyinlola said he had challenged the PDP national leadership on his suspension.

    He said: “Until the court decides otherwise, I remain the PDP national secretary. I am the only authentic national secretary of the PDP. Any other person, who claims that office, is an impostor and should be treated as such. If any other person acts as the PDP national secretary, it can affect our party in future because other parties can use that against us.

    “Only the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) has the right to discipline a NEC member. I have studied the constitution of our party and as a lawyer I know that the state chapter of the party or any other organ within the party lacks the prerogative to discipline me.”

    Recalling that the crisis in the PDP at the national level led to the birth of the new PDP, Oyinlola said: “There is only one PDP in Nigeria now and I belong to the party. There is no old PDP or new PDP again. We are all in PDP.”

    The former governor, who explained that he had no link with the All Progressives Congress (APC), said he was invited to join the party.

  • ‘Govt not serious in resolving ASUP strike’

    ‘Govt not serious in resolving ASUP strike’

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) yesterday accused the President Goodluck Jonathan administration of ‘insensitivity’ towards resolving the over seven months strike.

    ASUP National President, Dr. Chibuzor Asomugha said government was not serious in calling off the strike.

    Speaking in Abuja on a Raypower Radio programme, Political Platform, he vowed that the strike would continue if government did not fulfil its promise.

    Asomugha said after the January 21 meeting with the Supervising Minister for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, government promised to get back to the union on further development, adding that nothing had been done.

    Said he: “The insensitivity on the part of government is acute to the point of destroying the system irrevocably. We are saying if government can resolve the four issues it chooses by itself, we can get the system running again.

    “We had made overtures. The next day after the NEC, we conveyed NEC’s decision to government. We expect government to have looked at that matter and if government is serious about the situation, government would have said, okay, now this is your stand on it, come let us talk about it. But government has not said anything.

    “NEC has reviewed the progress we have made so far with government and it has considered that government has not shown enough commitment. Government has not given ASUP anything concrete. The only thing we had to work with was the word of the minister, not supported by any paper or document, not supported by any authorisation.

    “The paper government gave us was a proposal. Government gave us the paper to convey this proposal to our NEC. It wasn’t an affirmation of government’s commitment to pay. We also reminded the minister that the other issues were pending. We asked questions about the issues, which government up till now has refused to address.”

  • ASUU slams Ondo Varsity VC

    ASUU slams Ondo Varsity VC

    The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has flayed the management of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State, for the attack on its members by the institution’s internal security men, known as “Sheriff Deputies.”

    It backed the boycott of lectures by AAUA lecturers, saying the institution’s authorities, led by the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof. Femi Mimiko, had never hidden its hatred for labour unions.

    An ASUU Zonal meeting was allegedly disrupted at AAUA last week Monday by the university’s security men.

    Speaking with reporters in Akure, ASUU National President Dr. Nasir Fagge said Mimiko’s action showed that he does not tolerate opposition.

    Faggae, who was accompanied by 14 ASUU branch chairmen, alleged that the VC, on many occasions, condemned ASUU’s activities and aims to ban unionism in AAUA.

    ASUU levelled 18 infractions against the VC, including the ban of ASUU vehicles in the university; refusal to pay the five-month outstanding salary of ASUU members in disregard of the non-victimisation clause in the resolutions reached on the suspension of the July-December, 2013 strike; arbitrary disengagement of ASUU members on the grounds of “reorganisation”; introduction of strange criteria for promotion being applied retroactively to ensure that only those who enjoyed his alleged blessing could scale promotion hurdles to the next cadre; irregular appointments of professors without the existence of Appointment and Promotion Committee, among others.

    Faggae said: “The story of the assault of January 27 deserves special mention in view of the lies that followed. On that fateful day, a delegation of ASUU-NEC, led by the Vice-President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, visited the branch to address its congress.

    “The first batch of the delegation got there in two union vehicles belonging to the union’s branches in the University of Ibadan (UI) and the Benue State University around 8:15am. These two vehicles were checked in and given the pass tallies. The team proceeded to the union’s secretariat, where members of the executive committee were waiting to receive them.

    “The delegation proceeded with the meeting. About an hour later, a team of the university’s internal security men, called Sheriff Deputies, swooped on the secretariat and deflated the tyres of the two vehicles that brought the visiting team.

    “Their reason was that the ASUU team came into the university without authorisation. They claimed that there was a law forbidding ASUU vehicles from entering the campus. ASUU demanded that the security men produce evidence of the so-called law, but some of the Sheriff Deputies pounced on the union’s branch chairperson, Dr. Busuyi Mekusi, and former Ondo State House of Assembly Speaker Bolarinwa and molested them.

    “The acting chief security officer later came to the ASUU Secretariat to apologise for the overzealous act of the Sherriff Deputies, but he acknowledged that there was a directive by the AAUA management not to allow ASUU vehicles from other branches into the campus.”

    However, the Registrar, Mr. R.B Olotu, said the visiting ASUU members refused to submit themselves for routine security checks and attacked the security men.

  • ASUU slams Ondo Varsity VC

    ASUU slams Ondo Varsity VC

    The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has flayed the management of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State, for the attack on its members by the institution’s internal security men, known as “Sheriff Deputies”.

    It backed the boycott of lectures by AAUA lecturers, adding that the institution’s authorities, led by the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof. Femi Mimiko, had never hidden its hatred for labour unions.

    An ASUU Zonal meeting was allegedly disrupted at AAUA last week Monday by the university’s security men.

    Speaking with reporters in Akure, ASUU National President Dr. Nasir Fagge said Mimiko’s action has shown that he does not tolerate any voice of dissent.

    Faggae, who was accompanied by 14 ASUU branch chairmen, alleged that the VC, on several occasions, openly condemned ASUU’s activities and aims to ban unionism in AAUA.

    ASUU leveled 18 infractions against the VC, including the ban of ASUU vehicles in the university; refusal to pay the five-month outstanding salary of ASUU members in utter disregard of the non-victimisation clause in the resolutions reached for the suspension of the July-December, 2013 strike; arbitrary disengagement of ASUU members on the flimsy ground of “ongoing reorganisation”; introduction of strange criteria for promotion that are being applied retroactively to ensure that only those who enjoyed his blessing could scale promotion hurdles to the next cadre; irregular appointments of professors without the existence of Appointment and Promotion Committee, among others.

    Faggae said: “The story of the assault of January 27 deserves some special mention in view of the tissue of lies that followed. On that fateful day, a delegation of ASUU-NEC, led by the Vice-President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, visited the branch to address its congress.

    “The first batch of the delegation got there in two union vehicles belonging to the union’s branches in the University of Ibadan (UI) and the Benue State University around 8:15am. These two vehicles were checked in and given the pass tallies. The team proceeded to the union’s secretariat, where members of the executive committee were waiting to receive them.

    “The delegation proceeded with the meeting. About an hour later, a team of the university’s internal security men, called Sheriff Deputies, swooped on the secretariat and deflated the tyres of the two vehicles brought the visiting team.

    “Their reason was that the ASUU team came into the university without authorization. They claimed that there was a law that forbade ASUU vehicles from entering the campus. ASUU demanded that the security men produce evidence of the so-called law, but some of the Sheriff Deputies pounced on the union’s branch chairperson, Dr. Busuyi Mekusi, and former Ondo State House of Assembly Speaker Bolarinwa and molested them.

    “The acting Chief Security Officer later came to the ASUU Secretariat to apologise for the overzealous act of the Sherriff Deputies, but he acknowledged that there was a directive by the AAUA management not to allow ASUU vehicles from other branches into the campus.”

    However, the Registrar, Mr. R.B Olotu, said the visiting ASUU members refused to submit themselves for routine security checks and attacked the security men.

  • Lawmakers avoid consideration of 2014 budget

    Lawmakers avoid consideration of 2014 budget

    The House of Representatives did not include the consideration of the 2014 budget in its Order Paper yesterday.

    Instead, the constitution review report was laid and mock electronic voting procedure was conducted.

    The consideration of the report is slated for tomorrow.

    The omission of the consideration of the budget was thought to be a strategy by the House leadership to diffuse tension on the floor following the directive by the interim National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that its members should block the consideration of the 2014 budget, among other Executive bills.

    The APC, yesterday, went into a short meeting before the beginning of plenary. Such meetings have become regular, particularly on the heels of Tuesday’s statement by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members that the APC was in the minority.

    It was learnt that APC members decided that the directive of the party “will be implemented with wisdom and in the best interest of the country”.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The omission of the budget consideration may not be unconnected with the decision of the APC members to tread with caution because they know that whatever steps they take would have grave implications on the country.

    “I have no doubt that they are in good position to turn things around, but they want to be sensitive to the plight of Nigerians; they don’t want to blow hot and cold ,like the PDP is doing with its gang-up with other parties.

    “I can assure you that by next week, the House will have settled down to tackle the document in the interest of the country.”

     

  • Mu’azu can’t end PDP crisis, says Atiku

    Mu’azu can’t end PDP crisis, says Atiku

    Proponents of peace in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) got yesterday a damning message from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. The crisis in the party is not about to end, he said, adding that National Chairman Adamu Mu’azu “can’t make anything out of his reconciliation tour”.

    Mu’azu visited former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta on Sunday.

    Speaking on Kaduna-based Liberty Radio, Atiku said Obasanjo pushed him out of the PDP.

    Atiku said since he returned to the party, he had been kept out of its activities, adding that he could only offer his assistance towards rebuilding the party if the leadership sought his help.

    “If I’m requested to, no problem. But let me say, first of all, that I did not leave the PDP. I was pushed out of the PDP by my former boss and ever since I returned four years ago, the PDP has not communicated to me and I have not communicated to PDP.

    “I have not attended any of their meetings and they have not invited me. I’m supposed to be a member of the Board of Trustees; I’ ve never attended. I’m supposed to be a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC); I have never attended one. I’m supposed to be a member of caucus, by convention, because when we were in office, we said the President should always nominate the Vice President. That was why Alex Ekwueme was nominated. But I ‘m not in the caucus.

    “I’m just looking at them. If you don’t participate in a process, how do you contribute with your experience and so on in resolving problems in the party?”

    He noted that the tour of the chairman to convince those who left the party to return would not make any difference, saying: “I told him it won’t make a difference. Before he took up the job, he (Mu’azu) came to me and told me he wanted the job, I told him, leave it because you are not going to do anything about it’.”

    On the 2015 elections, Atiku said he and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari had shared their concerns and agreed that they had not seen the country in such a crisis since the civil war. He described the situation as “grim”.

    Atiku said: “It is no longer about ambition but about Nigeria. We have got to a stage when you have an ambition, if the environment permits. The environment does not even permit that. So, you have to restore normalcy to the environment first before you begin to think about ambition. This is because if you allow your ambition to override it, you will find that you don’t even exist. Buhari and I have never seen things as bad. It’s really serious.

    On the proposed national conference, the former Vice President said there was nothing wrong about Nigerians talking to one another.

    He pointed out, however, that the Jonathan administration does not have the capacity to conduct elections and the national conference in the same year.

    He said the government should have done the conference much earlier than now and ruled out the possibility of having a sovereign national conference (SNC). The nation cannot have the SNC when there is an existing constitutional arrangement, Atiku explained.

    He condemned the Rivers State crisis, saying there was absolutely no need for the Federal Government to use the police to undermine the state government in a democratic situation.

    Commenting on the directive by the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) to its lawmakers in the National Assembly to block the passage of the 2014 budget, Atiku called for caution, saying that there were other legislative processes the party could use to bring the government to order.

    He lamented that the Jonathan administration had exhibited so much impunity to the extent that the opposition has nothing else to do when they have been pushed to the wall.

    Atiku said: “There is nothing new in clamping on the government; it happened in the United States and the government shut down for a couple of weeks. We saw that politicians can resolve their differences. Sometimes it may be necessary for that to happen.

    Atiku dismissed claims that the exit of former PDP Chairman Bamanga Tukur would end the crisis in the party, saying: “No; I don’t think so. The troubles in the PDP are still going on and more yet to come. I don’t think Bamanga Tukur is the issue.”

  • Governors fault Presidency over cancelled NEC meetings

    Governors fault Presidency over cancelled NEC meetings

    The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) yesterday faulted the Presidency’s frequent cancellation of the National Economic Council (NEC) meetings.

    Rising from a meeting, which started on Wednesday and ended yesterday at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, the NGF noted that such cancellation could jeopardise discussions on issues of national importance.

    A NEC meeting was earlier scheduled to hold yesterday in Abuja, but it did not hold.

    The governors were already in Abuja.

    NGF said it was unable to make input into the 2014 budget because of frequent cancellations of the meeting.

    Reading a communiqué, Amaechi said: “It has become embarrassing that governors are invited to Abuja for NEC meetings only to be told of their cancellation; yet there are issues of national importance that ought to have been addressed at such meetings.

    “Consequently, we have a 2014 national budget without input from the states, resulting in a lack of sense of ownership of the budget process.”

    The forum called for the probe of the alleged missing $48.9 billion from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, also raised the issue, later agreed that about $106 was missing after a reconciliatory meetings.

    “In furtherance of the issues raised above, the forum reiterates that the NNPC and the Ministry of Finance are obliged to brief the governors on the non-remittance of $49.8 billion into the Federation Account.

    “In the absence of NEC meetings, the platform for resolving these issues becomes non-existent,” the governors said.

    The forum decried the crisis in Rivers State and urged President Goodluck Jonathan to summon a meeting of the Police Council.

    Amaechi said the forum had scheduled a retreat in Lagos in March.

    Governors at the meeting are: Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Tanko Almakura (Nasarawa) Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun).

    Others are: Kashim Shetima (Borno), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) and deputy governors of Zamfara, Kano and Imo states.

  • Exit of PDP’s undertaker

    At last, the intrigues surrounding the resignation and subsequent denials of Alhaji Bamaga Tukur as the National Chairman of People’s Democratic Party has been laid to rest with the announcement by the President Goodluck Jonathan who also doubles as the Party’s Leader during PDP’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.

    Tukur’s tenure was rather turbulent for the party. His tenure, due to his iron-fist style of administration led to the factionlization of the party with its attendant defections of 5 Governors and 37 Members of the House of Representatives to the major opposition party- All Progressive for Change (APC). About 20 Senators from the ruling party may also be on their way to join the APC in a matter of days, all things been equal.

    Despite the dwindling fortunes of his party, Alhaji Tukur continued to hold on to power on the premise that he was serving as the main backbone to Mr. President in view of President Jonathan’s perceived interest to run in the forth coming General Elections.

    It was unfortunate that President Jonathan himself could not read between the lines that the continued stay of Tukur in the office is inimical not only to the party’s interest but to his own interests too as the Party leader. It was when the embattled former Chairman was about to take his own party to court to challenge his impending removal that it became clear to the Presidency that Tukur was actually fighting to stay-on because of his own vested interest and not because of any party’s interest or President Jonathan’s interest ahead of 2015.

    May be his perceived closeness to the First Lady Mrs. Patience Jonathan also helped him to put the wool on the President’s eyes which has made Tukur to shield his real identity all these while from the President. Luckily enough, other party leaders were able to read Alhaji Bamaga Tukur’s game plan and that was why they pushed for his removal. If the embattled former National chairman has stayed till the end of this month, may be he would have driven the last nail to his party’s coffin and become its undertaker.

    In our own opinion, at the onset of the PDP’s factionalization that led to the emergence of the defunct New PDP led by Alhaji Baraje, Tukur should have been prevailed upon to either step down or step aside to allow room for proper harmonization and healing of wounds within the party. And now that the then New PDP has merged with the APC, only time can tell whether the defectors can still retrace their steps back to the ruling party’s fold again. Tukurs’s maladministration characterized by his headmaster’s style of administration may have done irreparable damages to his own party that is reputed to be the largest party in Africa.

    It may be recalled that Alhaji Bamaga Tukur’s candidacy was opposed by members of the party from the North Eastern zone of the country where he hails from.In other words, his candidacy was practically forced down on the party by the Presidency against the party’s consensus candidate. Tukur’s people might have known him much better than the Presidency. This may be a great lesson to the PDP and the Presidency in particular should learn and ensure that they do not repeat the same mistake again while shopping for Alhaji Tukur’s replacement. Maybe the party can still recover some of its lost fortunes and setbacks. There is no doubt that Tukur’s actions or inactions while in office have succeeded in digging the grave for the party’s burial except a Rapid Response Team/ Strategy is put in place to revive the party that is almost going into coma. Even Mr. President political base has been eroded overtly or covertly.

     

    Gbemiga Olakunle (J.P)

    General Secretary, National Prayer Movement

    gbemigaolakunle@yahoo.co.uk

  • PDP crisis: Jonathan, governors agree to sack Tukur

    PDP crisis: Jonathan, governors agree to sack Tukur

    PDP chair: I can’t be removed

    NWC members shun meeting

    President Goodluck Jonathan and governors may have bowed to pressure for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Bamanga Tukur’s removal, it was learnt yesterday.

    The Presidency and the governors are believed to have advised Tukur to resign.

    The party meets on Thursday to decide the fate of Tukur, who is insisting that the National Executive Committee (NEC) cannot remove him – legally. He said only the National Convention can sack him.

    But there was a sign yesterday that the game was up for Tukur: NWC members boycotted a meeting he summoned.

    An investigation by our correspondent revealed that wider consultations of stakeholders by the President favoured Tukur’s exit.

    The stakeholders include governors, Board of Trustees (BoT) members, members of the National Assembly and state party chairmen.

    A source said: “The President listened to most of the stakeholders, including NWC members, and those who are pro-Tukur. The preponderance of opinions was against Tukur.

    “As a democrat and the National Leader of the party, the President and the governors have no choice than to accept the decision of the majority. The consensus is that Tukur must go.

    “Although the President acknowledged the sacrifice Tukur made to serve PDP at old age, he said the party ought to move forward as overwhelmingly demanded by stakeholders.

    “The alternative for Tukur is to accept another public offer as the President deems fit. I think the President might still accommodate Tukur in what may look like a ‘no victor, no vanquished’ deal.

    But, according to source, Tukur said contrary to insinuations, he is agile and healthy to carry on as the national chairman.

    He also joined issues with the party by claiming that the NEC cannot remove him from office; only the National Convention can.

    Another source said: “The presidency and many governors have advised Tukur to resign but he insisted that nothing was wrong with him.

    “He warned the party against committing illegality by prevailing on the NEC to remove him.”

    Tukur was quoted as saying: “I am agile, active and healthy to lead the PDP. I have no any challenge.”

    In spite of his adamant posture, it was fresh trouble yesterday in Abuja when NWC members boycotted a weekly meeting summoned by Tukur.

    Although all the NWC members were at the National Secretariat, none of them surfaced at the meeting.

    It was learnt that Tukur was left stranded as he only sat for about 30 minutes awaiting the aggrieved NWC members.

    The NWC members passed a vote of no confidencae in Tukur at a session with the President on Thursday night at the Presidential Villa.

    A member of the NWC said: “We did not attend the meeting convened by Tukur because his loyalists have accused us of taking bribes of N30million or N40million to remove him.

    “We want the allegation proven because our hard-earned image is at stake. We cannot sit down with Tukur and be confronted with another insinuation of bribery.

    “Besides, the truth is that the game is up for Tukur, he should leave.

    “He is saying that the NEC cannot remove him, but he has forgotten that the same NEC can take decision on behalf of the National Convention of the party.”

    The search for a new National Chairman for the PDP has started, with the odds in favour of ex-Governor Adamu Muazu.

    FCT Minister Bala Mohammed was said to have been pencilled for the job, but he “tactically” rejected it because of his governorship ambition in Bauchi State.

    “Also, some leaders wanted the Chairman of TETFUND, Musa Babayo, but he was also no longer keen due to political exigency. Babayo had defeated Tukur at the Zonal Congress for the slot,” another source said, adding:

    “The stakeholders are building consensus on ex-Governor Adamu Muazu, who is rated as a bridge-builder with a cosmopolitan outlook. He is also an associate of the President.

    “If Muazu will come on board, the party leaders need to reconcile him with Governor Isa Yuguda who cannot be comfortable having his political rival as the leader of PDP. It is like sealing the political fate of Yuguda.”

  • ‘Why I can’t be removed from office’

    ‘Why I can’t be removed from office’

    People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Bamanga Tukur has told President Goodluck Jonathan why he cannot be removed from office now.

    His explanation is informed by speculations about plans by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to sack him.

    Tukur, in a January 13 letter by his lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede, addressed to President Jonathan, said he cannot be removed because there was a valid subsisting order of a Federal High Court, Abuja, issued on April 25, last year asking the party to maintain the status quo.

    In the suit he filed for PDP against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Justice Adamu Bello ordered parties to maintain status quo by not taking actions that would lead to the removal of the then national officers.

    PDP, in the suit, sought, among others, a declaration that the tenure of the National Officers elected at the 2012 National Convention could not be truncated.

    This was after the INEC alleged irregularity in the election, saying that the nominations of the officers who were unopposed at the 2012 convention were invalid because they were affirmed by voice votes instead of “open secret ballot”.

    Tukur said he wrote Jonathan because he is the constitutional leader of the PDP and that it was reported that he (Jonathan) attended the BOT meeting where the plan to remove Tukur was hatched.

    The letter reads: “My attention has been drawn to reported proceedings of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party, which culminated in the decision to remove Dr. Bamanga Tukur from the position of Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    “This removal is to be achieved either by pressurising him to resign or by some vote of lack of confidence to be procured against him at a planned National Working Committee meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    “This letter is addressed to you because you are the constitutional leader of the PDP and it was reported that you were in attendance at the BOT meeting.

    “That order is still subsisting, valid and binding on the PDP and INEC till date and especially as at the time the BOT meeting decided to procure the removal of Dr. Bamanga Tukur.

    “The position of Nigerian Law is that anyone, though not directly bound by an order of court, who aids or abets the negation of such an order is liable for criminal contempt and all contemptuous actions taken by contemnors are null and void and liable to be set aside by the court.”

    Oluyede said he decided to write the president to forestall a breakdown of order and to prevent the PDP from falling into a booby trap.

    “In the circumstance, we find that the deliberation by the BOT on a plan to remove the National Chairman of the PDP and the decisions and resolutions reached at that meeting are null and void and anything built on it will be equally null and void.

    “More importantly, we must point out that INEC, which is a party to the proceedings in which the order was made, cannot recognise any new appointment or installation of a replacement for Dr. Tukur arising from the decision taken at the said BOT meeting or that of any other organ of the Party during the subsistence of the order for status quo.

    “This would mean that any nomination forms submitted or signed by such a replacement would be equally null and void. The ramifications of this chain of illegalities are easy to imagine.”

    The letter went on: “We have written, inter alia, to draw your attention to the taint this illegal process could be on an otherwise legitimate nomination process for the candidates of the PDP at the forthcoming general elections.

    “This can be avoided now by mere attention to detail and compliance with due process.

    “Due process in the circumstances dictates that any legitimate demand for the termination of Dr. Tukur’s tenure as National Chairman of the PDP be subjected to the procedure and processes prescribed by the Constitution of the Party for removal, only after the court has determined the pending action or otherwise vacated the subsisting order aforementioned.”

    Also yesterday, Tukur insisted that he could only be removed through a properly conducted national convention of the party and that until that takes place, he remains the legally-recognised national chairman.

    He dismissed reports that President Jonathan had asked him to resign, saying that the party’s constitution did not vest the President with such powers. According to him, the report was the handiwork of the opposition.

    Tukur said: “I am an elected national chairman. I have my certificate of return. I cannot resign. The convention brought me, so it has to take the convention that brought me for me to resign.

    “So, not even the President can ask me to resign. Remember that some members of the National Woking Committee (NWC) were asked to go recently because the election that brought them was flawed. So Mr. President can not tread that route again.”