Tukur, Tambuwal, PDP govs, others meet over defection

As part of the efforts aimed at resolving the crisis rocking the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, the governors elected on its platform met with some national officers of the party in Abuja on Thursday night.

The meeting, which was held behind closed doors, was held at the Akwa Ibom Governors’s Lodge, Asokoro.

At the meeting were the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur;  Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, PDP governors, Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus while the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim came briefly.

Journalists were not allowed to enter the compound where the meeting was held as security men that manned the gate said they were under strict instructions not to allow them (journalists) access into the compound.

Apart from discussing the crisis in the party, it was also gathered that the meeting discussed the gale of defection in the party among its members, especially in the House of Representatives.

Four governors later joined Tukur at the meeting with the House members.

The governors were those of Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Katsina and Cross River States.

It was gathered that they were invited by Tukur to help appease the angry lawmakers.

It was gathered that the governors had agreed that Tukur should retain his position and that changing him could spell doom for the party and the President in 2015.

“We have agreed that the chairman should not be removed and that was why the President asked him to come and beg us at the meeting. So, for the sake of the President, we have agreed that he should be allowed to stay,” a governor, who was at the meeting told our correspondent on condition of anonymity.

He, however, added that Tukur had been asked to embark on a genuine reconciliation drive.

After the meeting, the governors left for the State House without briefing journalists.

Among the governors at the meeting were those of Delta, Cross River, Enugu, Gombe, Bayelsa, Bauchi and Kaduna States.

Before the meeting went into closed door, House Leader, Mulikat Akande said the meeting was meant to create synergy between the House Caucus and the  party.

She said at the last leadership meeting of the House, it was agreed that the leadership of the party must be invited to brief the House on the happenings in the party.

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