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Adamawa Poll: Ribadu, Marwa, Tukur, Others Pick Guber Forms

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As the August 20 deadline for the collection and submission of the governorship forms for the Adamawa State governorship election draws near, the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, former military administrator of Lagos State, Buba Marwa and son of the immediate past National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Awwal Tukur, have collected the party’s governorship forms for the poll slated for October 11.

Others who have paid the mandatory fee of N10 million and N1 million Expression of Interest form are the former Minister of State for Health, Dr. Idi Hong; acting Governor, Umar Fintiri, former political adviser to the president, Ahmed Gulak and  former Executive Secretary of  the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Ahmed Moddibo.

Ribadu, who picked his governorship form through his political associate, Hammidu Mahmud, at the national secretariat of the PDP in Abuja, told journalists that he was not aware that President Goodluck Jonathan had anointed him as the party’s governorship candidate.

According to him, “We are not aware that the president wants Ribadu, it was some PDP chieftains in the state who called on Ribadu to come and contest for the governorship of the state. So the question of the president wanting Ribadu does not arise in the case.”

Mahmud further said  the former EFCC boss had applied for waiver from the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to enable him contest for theOctober 11 governorship election and that he was awaiting the outcome of the waiver application.

Also yesterday, the son of the immediate past national chairman of the PDP, Awwal Tukur, paid and collected the governorship nomination form for the primary election scheduled for September 6, disclaiming reports that he had stepped down for Ribadu.

According to Tukur, “I have not stepped down for Ribadu and as you see, I have come here this afternoon to pick up my form, that alone is an indication that I am in the race and we will see what happens in future, we have our elections.”

Tukur’s son who said the party was yet to hold any consensus meeting also said: “Consensus is a major pinnacle of our party and as politicians, we all know that everyone will not get it at one point. You can get it through the ballot box or consensus. To answer your question, we have not had any consensus meeting. I don’t think anyone has had one or has told me like I said. We are all preparing for elections.”

On the implications of his joining the race bearing in mind that he is the son of the immediate past national chairman, Awwal said, “There is no doubt I am Alhaji Bamanga Tukur’s son. I must be born to somebody, God chose it to be Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and if he is my father, I will ride on my father’s back, I will not ride on someone else father’s back. That is nature.  He has born me and there is nothing I can do about it.

“I have said it that people should also look at my history. I am an individual, until you show me in the constitution where it says because I am Alhaji Bamanga Tukur’s son, I cannot play politics. I rise and fall in my own right. Alhaji Bamanga Tukur’s time has come and gone this is my time! So, let us not make that mistake. Until you tell me a butcher’s son that can’t eat meat, then why can’t a politician’s son cannot play politics? I think that is falsehood. So let us leave that horse alone. I will go and face the electorate, not my father. People should leave my father out of it and face me in my own right,” he said.

The guidelines for the PDP governorship election in the state stipulates that the last day for the collection of forms is August 19, while the deadline for the submission is August 20. Screening of aspirants is August 28 and appeals on the outcome of the screening would be entertained on August 30.

The ward congresses to select the delegates for the election is slated for September 1, while the appeal is slated for September 3, also, the state congress to determine the governorship candidate of the party is slated for September 6 and appeal on the outcome is slated for September 8, while the main election isOctober 11.
Meanwhile, the state chapter of the PDP has encouraged  the acting Governor of the state, Fintiri to contest the governorship bye-election

The Chairman of  PDP in the state, Chief Joel Madaki, made the disclosure at the party’s secretariat in Yola while receiving the acting governor and his entourage who notified the party  of his plans to contest  the  bye-election.
Madaki said the party had made preparations to embrace all contestants, adding that he believed that more gubernatorial aspirants would soon join the race hence the need for the party to strategise to provide a level-playing ground for all contestants under its platform.

Madaki noted that information had reached them that some desperate aspirants are recruiting delegates through issuance of fake registration cards but added that  the party was already on top of the situation.
“Our doors are open as a party for everybody to come in and people have been coming in particularly from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Marcus Gundiri has come, Buba Marwa has come, I was also told that Nuhu Ribadu has joined us.
Meanwhile, a group of PDP stakeholders have endorsed the gubernatorial aspiration of  Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
This was made known at a meeting convened by Concerned Youth for Good Governance in Adamawa held in Yola.
The PDP members extolled the leadership qualities exhibited by Ribadu in the positions he had served, saying he is competent to rule the state.

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