2015: Religion, Ambition May Tear Adamawa PDP Apart

There are indications that the Peoples Democratic Party in Adamawa State may explode following the recent political developments in the state.

However, the explosion, it was gathered, may take a religious dimension.

Investigations by our correspondent showed that some Christians were said to be angry with the leadership of the party, both at federal and state levels, over how the former Deputy Governor of the state, Mr. James Ngilari, was treated.

It was gathered that the plan to impeach the former governor, Murtala Nyako, was agreed to with the understanding that Ngilari would be spared and be allowed to become the governor after his boss must have been sacked.

But a powerful group within the PDP, at both the national and state levels, was said to have insisted that Ngilari too must be removed.

The plot, it was gathered, forced the deputy governor to resign before the seven-man probe panel set up by Acting Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ambrose Mammadi, to investigate allegation of misconduct against the former governor and his deputy.

The setting up of the panel was as a result of directive from the state House of Assembly.

A Muslim member of the PDP in the state, who spoke with our correspondent in Abuja on Wednesday on condition of anonymity, said, “PDP is set for a major explosion in Adamawa State following the recent political developments in the state. But unfortunately, this is taking a very dangerous religious line.

“Christians believe that they are no longer wanted in the party following the impeachment of the governor and the forced resignation of his deputy, who would have been impeached anyway had he not taken the step to resign.

“Non-Muslim members of the PDP are largely of the opinion that Ngilari was unfairly joined together with Nyako because the party didn’t want a Christian to succeed the governor upon his impeachment.

“Following this development, Christian religious leaders have opened discussions with the opposition All Progressives Congress with the hope that, at least, there will be accommodation for them in the party.”

Meanwhile, more aspirants are said to have lined up to contest the party’s primary in the state.

Among the candidates are the former Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Political Affairs, Mr. Ahmed Gulak; a former Minister of State for Health, Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong; a former Military Administrator of Lagos State, Brig. Gen. Bulbar Marwa; the governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, Markus Gundiri and Anwal Tukur, who is the son of the former National Chairman of the party, Bamanga Tukur.

Among the candidates, only Gundiri, who registered with the party in March this year, is a Christian.

He is said to have the backing of the former governor of the state, who is also the Minister of Youth Affairs, Mr. Boni Haruna.

Haruna, who is a Christian like Gundiri, became the governor of the state by default.

He was the running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in 1999 on the ticket of the PDP.

But when Atiku was picked as the Vice President by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Haruna assumed office having won the governorship election with Atiku.

Gundiri came second behind Nyako with 241,023 votes during the governorship election. Nyako won with 302,953 votes.

He won in seven out of the 21 local governments in the state.