Ribadu picks PDP Adamawa gov election form

The 2011 presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on Monday picked up the Peoples Democratic Party’s Expression of Interest form to contest for the governorship of Adamawa State.

Ribadu, who defected to the ruling PDP recently, said he had applied to the national leadership of the party for a waiver to contest the party’s governorship primary in Adamawa.

The PDP form was picked for the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission by his political associate, Alhaji Ahmidu Mahmoud.

Mahmoud, who spoke with journalists after he paid N11m for the form, said Ribadu was ready for the party’s primary and that he was confident of getting the waiver.

He said, “I’m here on behalf of Ribadu to purchase the nomination form in order to enable him contest the governorship primary in Adamwa State.

“We have commenced the process of getting waiver. The waiver clause in the party’s constitution was not inserted because of him.

“He is expected to enjoy the waiver. We have applied for the waiver and we expect that he would get it.”

He denied insinuations that Ribadu had been banking on the support of President Goodluck Jonathan to win the primary and the election, which the Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed for October 11, 2014.

“We are not aware that the President wants him, but some PDP chieftains in our state called him. He doesn’t need to have any structure on ground to win. He is ready to contest the primary,” Mahmoud added.

Our correspondent learnt that Ribadu’s letter for waiver, which he addressed to the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, was dated August 16.

The letter, which was sighted by our correspondent, read in part, “I wish to humbly write to apply for a clearance/waiver to enable me aspire for position on the platform of this great party.

“As a fresher in the party, I have duly obtained my membership, paid required dues. I hereby tender photocopies, including my voter’s card for your necessary action”.

Rbadu had on August 1 applied to join the PDP, promising to “adhere to the party’s constitution, promptly pay my fees and actively participate in party activities.”

The former chairman of the EFCC also promised to “take all necessary steps to propagate and execute the aims and objectives of the great party, PDP” if his application would be accepted.

If he gets the waiver, Ribadu will slug it out at the primary with the likes of the Acting Governor, Umar Fintiri; a former Special Adviser to President Jonathan on Political Affairs, Ahmed Gulak; a former Military Administrator of Lagos State, Brig-Gen. Mohammed Marwa (retd.) and a former Minister of State for Health, Idi Hong.

Others in the race who have paid the mandatory N11m nomination fee included the former Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Ahmed Modibbo; and Awwal Tukur, who is the son of a former National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

All the aspirants are to be screened by the party on August 28, while those who are dissatisfied with the outcome will face the appeal committee two days later.

The younger Tukur, who picked his form at the national headquarters of the party in Abuja on Monday, said he should be judged by his own pedigree.