By Garba Mohammad
Former Presidential Candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria,ACN now All Progressives Congress,APC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has joined Peoples Democratic Party,PDP Premium Times has reported.
Ribadu ,former chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is a renowned anti-corruption czar.He is believed to be anointed candidate to fly the PDP ticket in the race to succeed Murtala Nyako as elected governor of Adamawa State.
But Newsdiaryonline.com earlier reported that some PDP stalwarts in Adamawa have kicked against reported pressure on Ribadu to defect to PDP to pick the party’s ticket.
Now that the anti–corruption Czar has joined PDP, the tempo of political activities ahead of the October bye election in Adamawa state is expected to rise.
Also,ahead of the October governorship Bye election, Senator Representing Adamawa Central Senatorial Constituency, Ahmed Barata has expressed his intention to contest the election slated to hold on 11th October, 2014 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).Governor Murtala Nyako(APC) was recently impeached by the State House of Assembly.
Declaring his intent to contest the gubernatorial contest before the party executive at the state secretariat complex of the party yesterday, Barata said his mission to join the fray is to rescue Adamawa from the social and economic doldrums bedeviling it for a long time.
“Today I present myself before you all men and women of goodwill to declare that I offer myself to serve as the next governor of Adamawa State on the platform of our great party All Progressives Congress (APC), in the bye election coming up in the last quarter of this year,” he said.
He said in consideration of the bountiful resources the state was blessed with, poverty should not be in any way ascribed to the state adding that when elected, he will make judicious use of the resources to salvage state from the rippling effect of poverty.
Barata noted that his major interest is to address the welfare of the people of the state noting that he has the prerequisite experience, exposure and the willingness to transform the state if given the opportunity.
He said his sojourn in politics which started many decades ago will give him an edge over other aspirants as he started his political journey from the grass root where he contested for councillorship, Local Government Chairman, member house of representatives and finally the senate adding that the experience he gained over the years will come handy if elected Governor of the state.
In her response, the Chairman Adamawa State chapter of All Progressives Congress, Binta Masi Garba said the expression of intent by Barata is a welcome development as it signifies that the party is well rooted in the state which informed the jostle by many aspirants to contest on its platform.
Binta promised to be fair to all those aspiring for elective positions in the party saying that the cardinal objective is to ensure that internal democracy is well rooted as that is the only guarantee for the survival of democracy.
