Adamawa Election: Ribadu, 7 Others Step Down
As the Adamawa polls draw closer, Nuhu Ribadu and seven other aspirants in the race for the governorship ticket, under the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), have reportedly stepped down from the race.
The other seven aspirants who have withdrawn from Saturday’s primary election are Auwal Tukur; Aliyu Idi Hong, Andrawus Sawa; James Barka; Gen. Aliyu Kama; Markus Gundiri and Abubakar Girei.
According to The Nation report, they stepped down in the early hours of Friday, September 5, after a 4-hour meeting at the Banquet Hall of the State House.
Senate President, David Mark along with other officials of the party were able to reach a compromise with the aspirants and pruned down the number of those contesting to six.
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At closed-door meeting which started at about 9.06 p.m on Thursday and ended around 1.00 a.m on Friday, it was agreed that the six aspirants will not contest again for the governorship position in 2015 elections.
Only those who stepped down, have the opportunity of contesting for the party’s governorship election ticket in 2015, with more consideration in 2015 for Adamawa Central that has never produced a governor.
The six aspirants still in the race for the party’s ticket on Saturday are Ahmed Gulak, Buba Marwa, Ahmed Modibbo, Dr. Umar Ardo, Acting Governor Umaru Fintiri, and Jerry Kumdisi.
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Speaking at the end of the meeting, Chairman of the Adamawa State chapter of the party, Joel Madaki said nobody was forced to step them, all those who agreed to step down did so voluntarily in order to wait to contest for the position in 2015.
The former Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Ahmed Gulak, who is one of those still in the race said the outcome of the meeting was fantastic and they agreed unanimously that after the primaries, anybody that emerges will get the support of others.
On his chances of getting the ticket as Ribadu and others are now out of the race, he said: “Nuhu Ribadu or not, you know, I prepared for this election. Even, if 14 of us are going into this election, I am confident of my ability, of my capability, of my mobilization, of my sensitization that the delegates will select me.”
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Those who attended the meeting included the PDP National Vice Chairman, Uche Secondus and the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Rufai Alkali.
Also at the meeting are two governors, Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe) and Isa Yuguda (Bauchi).
The Secretary of the Adamawa state PDP, Barrister Ati Shehu and the former governor of the state, Wilberforce Jutta were also at the meeting.
Following the impeachment of former Governor Murtala Nyako by the State House on July 15, 2014, an election has been fixed for October 11, to get a substantive governor for the state who will rule till another election comes up in 2015.
The various parties would be holding primary elections to pick a candidate to who will be their flag-bearer in the October 11 election.
Source: Legit.ng
