Ribadu ditches APC, joins PDP



A former presidential candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria and ex-chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, has defected from All Progressives Congress to the Proples Democratic Party.

SUNDAY PUNCH gathered that Ribadu’s siblings registered for him at his Makama Ward in Yola South and sent the registration card to him in Abuja to enable him pick the PDP governorship form for the Adamawa State governorship election.

It was also gathered that he would likely address journalists on Monday on his governorship ambition.

When contacted, the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party said it was not aware yet that the former EFCC boss had defected to the party from the All Progressives Congress.

The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Ibrahim Jalo, who spoke with our correspondent in Abuja on Saturday, said, “It is after the official defection that we can say whether he had moved or not and whether he will get waiver or not. Even at that, he has to ask for the waiver.”

On different social media platforms on Saturday, promimemt members of the PDP congratulated Ribadu fir defecting.

Ribadu has been under pressure from the national leadership of the party and the Presidency to defect and contest the governorship election of Adamawa State under the platform of the ruling PDP.

Our correspondent learnt in Abuja that those who had so far indicated interest to contest the election under the platform of the PDP were the former military administrator of Lagos State, General Buba Marwa; former Senator representing Adamawa Central, Abubakar Girei; a former Political Adviser to the President, Ahmed Gulak, and a former Minister, Idi Hong.

Others include Dr. Umar Ardo, former Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission; Dr. Ahmed Modibo; Mr. Markus Gundiri and the son of former PDP national chairman, Mr. Awual Tukur.

The acting Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, has also announced his intention to contest following the pressure he received from 13 of his colleagues from the state House of Assembly.


Source: Punch

Publish Date: 

Sunday, 17 August 2014