The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Adamawa poll

  • Ribadu concedes defeat to APC’s Bindow in Adamawa

    Ribadu concedes defeat to APC’s Bindow in Adamawa

    The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa State, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu on Sunday conceded defeat to Sen. Jibrilla Bindow of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission chairman said he took his loss in good faith because leadership is a product of God’s anointment.

    Ribadu made his position known in a concession address to the people of the state.

    He said: “My dear people of Adamawa State, I greet you in the best form of greetings. I had dreamt of coming back home to lead our dear state to greater strides after years of underdevelopment.

    “I started this journey in August last year and successfully got the mandate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to fly its flag for the April 11 gubernatorial election. I came into this race knowing fully well that political contests are two-way traffics – one either wins or loses.

    “As a man of faith, I was also aware that leadership responsibility is a product of God’s anointment.

    “In the course of this journey, I have seen genuine support and encouragement from the people of Adamawa State.

    “Several individuals from Adamawa and beyond contributed generously to keep the campaign going and many others devoted their time, energy and intellect to see to the success of this project. I sincerely appreciate this belief in my person and my ambition.

    “The support I got from my party’s leadership and individual members from President Goodluck Jonathan down to the party agents in our polling units was overwhelming and gratifying.

    “The party leader in the state, Barrister Bala James Nggilari and the state party chairman, Chief Joel Madaki led their lieutenants in making this journey memorable.”

    Ribadu said he had no choice than to accept the preference of the majority for Bindow.

    He added: “I came into this race with lofty dreams and clear vision for our dear state, but the voice of the majority has not given me this chance. I take this in good faith.

    “I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the winner and pray that at the end of it all our dear state will witness the needed progress and development it so much desires. God bless Adamawa State, God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

  • Adamawa poll: Stakeholders oppose plot to drop Ribadu, others for Ngilari

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders and stakeholders in Adamawa State yesterday kicked against moves to concede the governorship ticket to Governor Bala Ngilari, who is from the Northern Senatorial District.

    Ngilari, who entered into an unwritten agreement to vie for a senatorial ticket, is being positioned by some Middle Belt leaders for the governorship race, it was learnt.

    The National Working Committee earlier zoned the governorship seat to Adamawa Central Senatorial District.

    With Ngilari showing interest, there is fear that the party may deny leading aspirants from the Central District the governorship ticket.

    The other aspirants are former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Nuhu Ribadu; former governorship aspirant of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Marcus Gundiri; former Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Dr Ahmed Mohammed; former House of Assembly Speaker James Barka; Gen. Aliyu Kama (rtd) and a former member of the House of Representatives, Auwalu Tukur, who is the son of former PDP National Chairman Bamanga Tukur.

    It was learnt that two former ministers, a minister and some Middle Belt leaders are lobbying the Presidency to allow Ngilari contest the governorship seat.

    According to sources, the leaders believed that since Ngilari comes from a “minority” group, he might stabilise the state.

    The leaders are also relying on permutations that based on the Right of First Refusal, Acting Taraba State Governor Garba Umar might be given the state’s ticket.

    The leaders are lobbying the Presidency to allow a Christian governor take charge of Adamawa to balance the power equation in Taraba and Adamawa states.

    But PDP leaders and stakeholders in Adamawa State were yesterday opposed to the plot to change the zoning formula.

    A reliable PDP source said: “It will be dangerous for the Presidency and the PDP to change the zoning formula in Adamawa after it had been agreed upon and announced. PDP members won’t accept the shift of the governorship ticket from the Central District to the Northern District.

    “So far, it is only Adamawa Central Senatorial District that has never produced the governor since the state’s inception. But if you look at the power structure in the state now, the governor, the two ministers from the state, the Chief of Defence Staff, the EFCC chairman, and the Speaker of the House of Assembly, and former Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs Ahmed Gulak are from the Northern District.

    “The Southern District had earlier produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; former Governor Murtala Nyako; Alhaji Bamanga Tukur  (former PDP national chairman);  and the Principal Secretary to the President Hassan Tukur, among others.”

    A member of the PDP State Executive Committee said: “Ngilari has repeatedly told us that he is interested in the Northern Senatorial District ticket. We don’t know why some people are trying to cause disaffection in Adamawa PDP. There is no way PDP will field Ngilari and win the governorship poll. His candidature will further polarise the state.

    “With protest votes in the state against Ngilari, the President might not secure even 25 per cent of the votes from Adamawa. The President should respect the decision of the PDP National Working Committee to allow Adamawa Central District produce the party’s governorship candidate.”

  • Adamawa: ‘Why Fintiri cannot contest in 2015’

    Adamawa: ‘Why Fintiri cannot contest in 2015’

    The National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prof. Wale Oladipo has said that the Acting Governor of Adamawa State and the party’s candidate in the October 11 bye-election, Ahmadu Fintiri, voluntarily opted out of the 2015 governorship poll.

    He spoke on Tuesday at the party’s national secretariat while playing host to a delegation from a group under the platform of the “National Students’ Wing” of the PDP, led by Mr. Success Wada.

    Oladipo debunked insinuations that Fintiri was arm-twisted into forfeiting his chances of contesting the 2015 poll, saying “Fintiri himself opted not to contest in 2015 if he wins the October 11 bye-election.”

    He continued: “We didn’t force any candidate to step down. I was the Secretary of the Committee that met with them and what happened was that we pointed it out that it will be morally wrong for whoever wins now to contest the 2015 election.

    “The implication is that such a person will only rule the state till the expiration of the original term of Murtala Nyako in 2015. And eight of them voluntarily withdrew, saying that they would prefer to wait and contest the 2015 election. Nobody was forced. We don’t have a class captain in the PDP.”

    Oladipo said the agreement, though not in writing, was “robust, solid and voluntary,” stressing that the party is “one big family.”

    The party scribe added that safeguards have been put in place to ensure that none of the six aspirants that contested the party’s primary election contests the 2015 election. He did not elaborate on the safeguards.

  • Fintiri wins Adamawa PDP governorship primary

    Fintiri wins Adamawa PDP governorship primary

    The Acting Governor of Adamawa State, Umaru Fintiri, in the early hours of Sunday won the governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to complete the tenure of impeached former Governor Murtala Nyako.

    Fintiri was voted by 60 per cent of the more than 878 delegates at the poll conducted by a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole.

    While a former Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Modibbo, came second, a former Military Administrator of Lagos State, Brig-Gen. Buba Marwa was third.

    A source said: “The poll was free and fair. The power of incumbency worked for Fintiri who had secured the loyalty and support of statutory delegates like local government chairmen, councillors, and other political appointees.

    “Also before the poll, a former Political Adviser to the President, Ahmed Gulak, stepped down for Fintiri, making up to four aspirants conceding the slot to the Acting Governor.”

    The candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the October 11 governorship election is expected to emerge on Sunday.

     

  • Ribadu, Marwa, Gundiri get PDP waiver for Adamawa poll

    Ribadu, Marwa, Gundiri get PDP waiver for Adamawa poll

    The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has granted waiver to the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; former Lagos military administrator, Buba Marwa; and a former Adamawa governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Marcus Gundiri.

    This gives them clearance to participate in the party’s primary election slated for September 6. The eventual winner in the primaries will fly the party’s flag in the October 11 governorship election in the state.

    Metuh said: “The National Working Committee of the PDP at the end of its meeting on Friday, August 29, 2014, unanimously cleared all aspirants who expressed interest to contest the October 11 Adamawa State governorship election on the platform of the PDP to participate in the party’s nomination process.

    “After very careful and thorough consideration of all applications and the report of the Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha-led Adamawa State PDP Governorship Waiver Committee, the NWC was satisfied that all the aspirants met the requirements stipulated by the PDP constitution to participate in the process.

    “Consequently, waiver has been granted to Gen. Buba Marwa, Engr. Marcus Gundiri and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to take part in the exercise.

    “The NWC hereby restates its confidence in the leadership of the National Chairman, Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, in providing a level playing ground for all eligible citizens of the state to participate in the democratic process.

    “It assures that the nomination process, including screening of aspirants as well as the primary election will be conducted with utmost transparency and strict adherence to rules and the principles of justice, fairness and equity.

    “Finally, the NWC debunks speculations that its members were divided on the grant of the waiver and reiterates that the decision to open the space for wider participation was unanimously adopted after very extensive deliberations.”

  • Adamawa: Seven aspirants move to stop Ribadu, Marwa, three others

    Adamawa: Seven aspirants move to stop Ribadu, Marwa, three others

    The scramble for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket for the October 11 governorship bye-election in Adamawa State has taken a new twist.

    Seven of the 14 aspirants have called for the disqualification of five of their co-aspirants from the race, alleging that they are not members of the PDP.

    The petitioners are – Umar Ardo, Ahmed Gulak, James Barka, Andrawus Sawa, Abubakar Girei, Idi Hong and Awwal Tukur.

    In their petition, dated August 28 and addressed to the leadership of the party, they listed Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Buba Marwa, Mohammed Modibbo, Marcus Gundiri and Aliyu Kama.

    The petitioners stated that the five aspirants are not members of the party and therefore should not be allowed to contest the election.

    They said, “While on personal level we have absolutely no reason to wish to inhibit them from contesting the governorship of our state under the platform of our great party – for they are all eminently qualified.

    “But on the principle of playing a healthy political game, everybody must play according to the rules of the game. On this ground therefore we object to their contest as their participation will be an aberration to the election process. The issues against them are both constitutional and moral.

    “Constitutionally, Mallam Ribadu, Engr. Gundiri and Dr. Modibbo joined the PDP for the first time only recently, while Marwa and Kama returned to the PDP also only recently after earlier defecting from PDP to other political parties.

    “Going by the provisions of Sections 50 (9) and (10) and 8 (b) of the Constitution of the PDP 2012 (as amended), Ribadu, Gundiri and Modibbo are required to sustain continued membership of the PDP for a minimum of two years to be eligible to contest for the post of Governor; while Marwa and Kama remain on probation for at least one year, during which they will not be eligible to vote or be voted for except they are granted waivers as stipulated.

    “Both sides have not met the requirements. The purpose of the waiting period, subject to waiver, is to test the fidelity of persons who have joined or decamped to the party.

    “These provisions are important as they are actually meant to ensure that only credible and loyal members of the party are allowed the benefits and privileges of the party and also to ward off the proclivity of Nigerian politicians to defect from one party to the other at will without consequences.”

  • Don’t grant waiver to Ribadu – Clark

    Don’t grant waiver to Ribadu – Clark

    Prominent Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has warned the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against granting waivers to the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

    Already, the party leadership at the national and state levels are divided on the issue.

    The committee put in place by the party to consider the waiver request is expected to present its report later on Thursday

    Clark queried the rationale behind such consideration since Ribadu, according to him, lacks the “political pedigree.”

    He said it would be unacceptable to other aspirants if the committee clear Ribadu who joined the party few weeks ago.

    The former federal commissioner for information who spoke at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday faulted the defection of the former anti-graft czar from the All Progressives Congress to the PDP.

    He said, “How can we so brazenly break our own rules to destabilize our party, if not in a dangerous palace coup in the interests of high-level element within and beyond the party for reasons best known to them? What is this man bringing into the party? His antecedents are many; alas, not clean.

    “My respected, chairman, is this the paperweight politician from Adamawa state, a state which gave the president the highest number of votes, behind Taraba, that is being celebrated as a viable candidate to fly the party’s flag in 2015?

    “A Presidential candidate turned governorship aspirant, being celebrated? And you are from that zone, and should know much more than I do. Why do we seem so unmindful of the collateral damage this abnormal development, its timing and all, would cause the party, in terms of loss of enthusiasm and indeed, membership in massive numbers?

    “Has something gone into our eyes and brains, or we are all locked in voodoo charms of some fifth-columnists working out some wicked, unpatriotic, subterranean agenda, in league without opponents, to undercut the President, the party and nation?

    “Also note that the recrimations over, God forbid, the downfall of the President and the party, will first be visited upon the leadership. Please note that names of possible internal blacklegs are beginning to pop up here and there.”

     

  • Adamawa: Ribadu, Fintiri, Tukur, others beat PDP deadline

    Adamawa: Ribadu, Fintiri, Tukur, others beat PDP deadline

    It was a flurry of activities at the Abuja national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party on Monday, as 12 of the party’s 14 governorship aspirants scrambled to return their nomination forms to beat the deadline.

    The aspirants, who took turns to speak with reporters after submitting their forms, described the contest as “serious business,” saying they were not leaving anything to chance.

    Adamawa Acting Governor, Umaru Fintiri, insisted that the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, is not a threat to his aspiration.

    Fintiri said rather, Ribadu should be the one to be afraid of him. “I am the one that is a threat to Ribadu. Why should I be afraid of Ribadu when he does not have a structure and support base.

    “I am the leader of the rescue team in Adamawa because I have been laying the foundation for good governance, equity and fairness since I assumed office as Acting Governor,” Fintiri stated.

    Ribadu on his part, said he has been working hard for the party’s ticket, saying his last minute defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP would not affect his chances.

    He said: “I am prepared to serve the people at any level I find myself, even if I am called upon to serve as a street sweeper. I am working hard to win the party’s ticket. You should get it right that I am not new in partisan politics.”

    Also at the secretariat was the son of the immediate past national chairman of the PDP, Auwal Tukur, who came with a large number of supporters on his entourage.

    In an apparent reference to Ribadu, Tukur decried what he called a situation where a stranger would join the PDP at the eleventh hour and expect to get leverage over older members of the party.

    “A situation like this kills the initiative of existing members who have worked hard for the progress and development of the party over the years. It is not fair and such things should not be encouraged in the party,” Tukur said.

    Shortly after returning his form, former Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Mohammed Modibbo, challenged other aspirants to test their popularity at the grassroots instead of seeking undue leverage from the powers that be.

    Former Lagos State military administrator, Buba Marwa and former Political Adviser to the President, Ahmed Gulak, had submitted their forms on Friday.