Some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains under the aegis of PDP Stakeholders Forum, have asked the Screening Committee for the party’s chairmanship ahead of its March 24 national convention to disqualify one of the leading aspirants, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, accusing him of being ineligible to contest the election.
But the Campaign Organisation of Bamanga Tukur has described the latest effort to stop its flag-bearer as an attempt by desperate opponents to frivolously and maliciously impugn on the integrity of Tukur.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, convener of the forum, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, said Bamanga Tukur’s aspiration to lead the party violated the party’s constitution and the 2012 approved guidelines for the national convention.
He alleged that the membership of Tukur remained questionable since he was yet to pay his monthly subscription fees. The group said this violated Article (9) of the party’s constitution, just as was the issue of his involvement with? the controversial oil subsidy issue.
“It will be out of order and strange for Bamanga Tukur to be cleared to run for the chairmanship of the PDP when their company’s role in the plundering of national resources is currently a subject of the EFCC and House of Representatives probe, where shocking revelations have already been made.
“It must be noted here too, that Bamanga Tukur’s Eterna Oil Company needs to clear itself of the indictment by KPMG, which formed the basis upon which the House of Reps committee probing the subsidy scam has uncovered how more companies were involved in overpayment worth billions of naira,” the stakeholders alleged.
They also cited age and health as reasons why the frontline aspirant should not be allowed to contest for the party’s chairmanship.
Reacting to the group’s allegation, however, a member of the Bamanga Tukur campaign team, Shuaibu Gara Gombe, said it was too late for cheap lies to be used against their principal, adding that he cannot be distracted over frivolous issues.
“The beauty of democracy is the freedom it provides for people to express their views. This view by the so-called stakeholders is not only misleading, frivolous and mischievous, but also without substance as the group displayed apparent ignorance. Their sponsors are desperate and their desperation has taken them too far.
“Bamanga Tukur is not known for politics of bitterness and dirty engagements throughout his political career; his political antecedents as a former presidential and gubernatorial candidate are good testimonies.