Adamawa: Ribadu Obtains PDP Governorship Form, Says He’s Not Jonathan’s Candidate

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Monday, August 18th, 2014

By Ayo Balogun

In order to contest the October 11 governorship election in Adamawa state, the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has picked the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) expression of interest form.

Nuhu Ribadu

A political associate of the EFCC boss, Alhaji Ahmidu Mahmoud on Monday picked the form on his (Ribadu) behalf after paying the required N11 million naira.

Alhaji Mahmoud told newsmen “I’m here on behalf of Ribadu to purchase the nomination form in order to enable him contest the governorship primary in Adamwa State.”

As a new PDP member not eligible to contest for elective position under the party’s constitution without a waiver, the former anti-corruption boss has also applied for a waiver at the PDP national secretariat, according to Mahmoud.

Mahmoud denied rumours that Ribadu is the candidate of President Goodluck Jonathan saying, “we are not aware that the President wants him.”

He also boasted that Ribadu doesn’t need to have any structure on ground to win.

If granted the waiver, Ribadu will join a crowded field of politicians who are seeking the party’s governorship ticket.

Those already on the field are: Brig-Gen. Mohammed Marwa, a former Military Administrator of Lagos State; Umar Fintiri, Acting Governor; Ahmed Gulak, sacked former SA to President Jonathan on Political Affairs.

Others are: Awwal Tukur, the son of the former PDP national chairman Bamanga Tukur and Ahmed Moddibo who is the former Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission.

Meanwhile, Many political commentators on social media believe Mallam Ribadu, who recently decamped from the APC to PDP just to contest the governorship election, will not get the ticket describing him as attempting to reap where he did not sow.

Ribadu was the 2011 presidential candidate of the opposition party Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN) now All Progressives Congress (APC).