"I have not resigned, I am still the PDP Chairman" - Bamanga Tukur

The Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Bamanga Tukur, on Wednesday, made a late appearance at the party’s caucus meeting in Abuja, which he was supposed to chair, saying he has not resigned his position.

As members were waiting for President Jonathan to read Tukur’s resignation letter, the embattled chairman made a surprise appearance at the Board of Trustees meeting in Abuja, saying he had not resigned.

Alhaji Tukur, who walked into the Banquet hall of the Presidential villa at about 7:50 PM said he was not the sort of person that would resign in secret.

The PDP chairman, who walked in with former chairman of the party, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor told State House Correspondents that the rumour of his resignation was not true.

“I have not resigned. I am not somebody that would resign and you would not know. I have not resigned,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that before the arrival of Tukur at the Villa, there was a national caucus meeting of the leaders of the party presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The meeting was attended by the Senate President, Sen. David Mark and his Deputy, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal and his Deputy, Mr Emeka Ihedioha.

Also in the meeting were the BOT Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih and other party leaders, excluding Tukur.

NAN reports that the President also met with some PDP governors before the BOT meeting.

The governors were, Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Theodore Orji (Abia), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) and Ibrahim Shema (Katsina).

Governors ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa) and Ramalan Yero (Kaduna) also attended the meeting.

Suswam told State House correspondents after the governors’ meeting that the discussion was centred on the need to re-strategise and restore the dwindling glory of the party.

“The issues discussed with the president was basically on how to re-strategise and re-position our party and how to move forward as a party.

“The second meeting is the national caucus and I am not in the position to comment on that,” he said.

He said the meeting did not discuss the issue of resignation of Tukur.

Suswam said the decision on Tukur’s fate would be taken at the BOT and the National Executive Council meetings of the party on Thursday.