Bamanga Tukur Is PDP National Chairman

ABUJA, March 24, (THEWILL) - Erstwhile governor of the extinct north-eastern state of Gongola, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur on Saturday emerged the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), following the withdrawal of all 10 opponents ahead of the convention, still ongoing at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

The withdrawing candidates cited party interests and unity of members as reasons for their decision.

Only on Wednesday, Tukur (and four other candidates) had shockingly lost to Dr. Musa Babayo at the North-East congress of the party held in Bauchi to determine the favoured candidate for the coveted position, which had been ceded to the zone, comprising Adamawa, Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), more than 4,500 delegates from 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) participated in a yes-or-no voting in Abuja to affirm an unopposed Tukur’s position as the new national chairman.

Similarly, dethroned former governor of Osun State, Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola emerged the only candidate for the position of national secretary of the party equally without opposition, as aspirants for the
for the same office withdrew at the venue of the convention.

Chief Olisa Metuh, former deputy national chairman, South-East was returned as national publicity secretary in like manner.

Other positions that had been determined as at the time of filing this report are: Umar Ibrahim, deputy national auditor; Garba Chida, national youth leader; Dennis Arokpe, deputy national youth leader; Abubakar Mustapha, national organising secretary; Kema Chikwe, National Women Leader and Sam Sam Jaja, deputy national chairman (South).