Adamawa: Why Ribadu, others stepped down, by PDP

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has explained why eight of the 14 aspirants including Nuhu Ribadu stepped down from the October 11 governorship bye-election in Adamawa State.

According to the party, a consensus has been reached to zone the governorship seat to the Central Senatorial District, just as the contest is about completing the tenure of the impeached governor of the state, Murtala Nyako.

Also, it was agreed that whoever contests this position in 2014 will forfeit his right to contest next year.

Addressing journalists at a press conference in Abuja today, national secretary of the party, Wale Oladipo, said a consensus has been reached with all the 14 aspirants, with eight agreeing to withdraw, while six contestants will vie for the primary which holds Saturday.

While saying that whoever wins under the party’s ticket in the October 11 poll would not contest in 2015, Oladipo, who also doubles as secretary of the PDP Strategic Committee for Adamawa Gubernatorial Election, said the seat has been zoned to the Central Senatorial District next year.

The meeting, he added, held at the Presidential Villa in the early hours of Thursday to Friday morning, pointing out that Senate President David Mark chaired the meeting, as well as the 14 aspirants, governors of Gombe and Bauchi States, deputy national chairman, political adviser to the president, principal secretary to the president, chairman and secretary of Adamawa PDP were in attendance.

He emphasised that all 14 aspirants signed the agreement.

According to Oladipo, the six aspirants still in the race for the party’s ticket on Saturday are Ahmed Gulak, Buba Marwa, Ahmed Modibbo, Umar Ardo, Acting Governor Umaru Fintiri, and Jerry Kumdisi.

On the other hand, those who have withdrawn include Nuhu Ribadu, Auwal Tukur, Aliyu Idi Hong, Andrawas Sawa, James Barka, Aliyu Kama, Markus Gundiri and Abubakar Girei.

Consequently, the PDP chieftain revealed that the already completed and submitted nomination and expression of interest forms paid by those who have voluntarily withdrawn from the 2014 race remain valid for the 2015 contest.

Each aspirant paid N11 million for the form.

His words: “The present contest is about the completion of the tenure of the impeached governor (Murtala Nyako) of the state.

“Only six aspirants chose to contest in 2014 and forfeit their right to contest in 2015 should they win the 2014 race.

“All aspirants endorsed the results of the last Ward Congress held in Adamawa and gave irrevocable commitment to work assiduously and loyally towards the success of the PDP in 2014 governorship bye-election and the 2015 general elections”.