PDP Splits Over Waiver for Ribadu, Others

It was a hard nut to crack for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC), which met in Abuja yesterday to determine whether or not to grant waiver to former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chair Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and two others seeking its governorship ticket.

The meeting left the fate of Ribadu, former Lagos State Military Administrator Gen. Buba Marwa, and a former governorship candidate, Mr. Markus Gundiri hanging on the balance.

The three are seeking to vie for the PDP ticket for the October 11 Adamawa State Governorship By-Election.

The NWC members disagreed with National Chairman Adamu Muazu on granting the aspirants waiver.

While 11 members opposed waiver for the aspirants, Muazu insisted on granting them the privilege in line with Section 50(9) of the PDP Constitution.

The stalemate forced the NWC to postpone the screening of the 12 aspirants till Saturday.

The other aspirants are: Acting Governor, Umaru Fintiri; Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Modibbo; Auwal Tukur; ex-Minister Aliyu Idi Hong; Sen. Abubakar H. Girei; Jerry Kumdisi; Andrawus Sawa; James Barka; Brig. Gen. Aliyu Kama; Ahmed Gulak and Dr. Umar Ardo.

The NWC raised a five-man panel headed by the National Legal Adviser to consider issues surrounding the waiver request and submit a report tomorrow.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “For the first time, Muazu faced a revolt from NWC members most of who opposed waiver for the three aspirants.

“At a point, Muazu stood up and was about leaving the meeting when some members prevailed on him that the issue could be resolved through legal consultation.

“At the end of the day, the meeting agreed to raise a five-man panel to consider all applications for waiver and the legal implications. Members of the panel are the National Legal Adviser; National Organising Secretary; National Publicity Secretary; National Financial Secretary; and National Vice Chairman (NorthEast).

“The committee is expected to submit its report tomorrow to the party leadership.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “The screening of the aspirants has been postponed till Saturday.

“But the task of picking a candidate forced President Goodluck Jonathan to raise an eight-man committee, including three governors, to advise him.

A member of the NWC said:”What I can assure you is that PDP is trying to have a rancour-free primary to avoid losing the state to the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

There were indications last night that the President has opted for an eight-man advisory committee on the way forward.

A top source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said the Presidency and the NWC had been consulting on:

•whether to zone the governorship slot or not;

•what to do with the requests for waiver for Ribadu, Marwa and Gundiri;

•how to sustain the unity of the party after the primaries for the governorship poll in October to avoid defeat;

•should the acting governor be allowed to contest or not?

The source added: “The advisory committee is expected it to come up with a roadmap for the party.

“Like in the past, there are so many bigwigs in Adamawa PDP and unless the party manages the situation well, it might lead to a fresh crisis.”