Adamawa By- Election: Ribadu Fails To Register In PDP

3

nuhu_ribaduBy Abubakar Salihi

Contrary to speculations, former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu yesterday proved wrong insinuations that he was on the verge of joining the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

A section of the media had reported that the former anti-graft czar was billed to register for the PDP in his home state, Adamawa, yesterday, in preparation for his eventual indication of interest in the governorship race on the platform of the party. The by-election holds in October this year to fill the vacancy created by the impeachment of ex-governor Murtala Nyako. As at the time of this report, Ribadu was in Abuja.

Ribadu had maintained that he remained a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) amid unconfirmed reports that an automatic waiver was already awaiting him in the event that he defects to the PDP.

Although, no official reason was given for Ribadu’s failure to register, a PDP source confided in LEADERSHIP Friday that the development had a lot to do with the inability of the tripartite parties, that is, Ribadu, the Presidency and the top echelon of the PDP, to firm up an arrangements intended to smoothen things for him to pick the party’s governorship ticket on a platter.

Editor’s Picks  NLC pickets Labour Party office, Party says it's unlawful

LEADERSHIP Friday gathered that Ribadu developed cold feet when it became obvious that while the Presidency was ready to grant him an automatic waiver, some powerful power blocs within the party insisted he must go through the party primary like others. This, according to sources, was seen by Ribadu as a means of taking him out of the APC only to rubbish in the PDP.

Efforts to reach Ribadu were not fruitful as his three lines were switched off when LEADESHIP Friday called at 8:15pm . But his media aide, Abdulaziz Fagge, said his principal was not in Adamawa to register as a member of the PDP.

“As I am talking to you, Malam Nuhu Ribadu is in Abuja; he is not in Adamawa as being speculated”, Fagge said.

In his reaction, the Adamawa State chairman of the PDP, Chief Joel Madaki, said he unaware that Ribadu was coming to the state to register as a member of the party.

“The truth is that we want people in our party; everybody is welcome, we do not discriminate at all. But on this particular matter, I am not aware that Ribadu is coming to register as a member of our party.

“But please, I must remind you, and quote me please, that you join a party and then you aspire to a position; you don’t aspire to a position before you join a party,” Madaki said.

Editor’s Picks  FG says reliance on importation of pharmaceutical products will reduce soon 

 

We’re fully behind Ribadu – Ex-PDP Scribe

Meanwhile, support for Ribadu has soared from a cross section of the PDP in Adamawa state.

Former state secretary of the party, Mr P P. Elisha, yesterday in Yola described the former anti-graft boss’ gubernatorial ambition as the best thing to happen to the state.

He urged the national chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, to allow Ribadu to participate in the coming gubernatorial primary election in the state.

Meanwhile, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in charge of Adamawa State Kassim Gaidam has disclosed that about 20,000 personnel, including ad-hoc staff, security personnel and the permanent staff of the commission, will participate in the coming by-election in the state.

Courtesy Leadership