Adamawa: Last minute realignments changing expectations
Candidates of major political parties are scrambling for votes, wooing smaller parties to forge multiparty alliances. Our correspondent reports that last minute realignments have shown candidates talking with candidates of smaller parties, trade groups, youths and religious leaders in Adamawa State.
Two days ago, candidates of 10 political parties announced their withdrawal from the race to support their Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.
Ibrahim Sajoh Gyela, the elder brother to Adamawa State Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Ahmad Sajoh, also decamped from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to the PDP along with many supporters.
Fintiri expressed
appreciation for the support he enjoyed from the various groups, saying his campaign had been boosted by people who shared his ideals.
Across the divide, former governor Murtala Nyako has intensified consultation with various stakeholders to boost the chances of his son and candidate of African Democratic Party (ADC), Sen. Abdul’aziz Nyako.
Nyako has relocated to Yola from his Abuja base to mobilise votes for his son and the goodwill visits he received can send fear down the spine of opponents.
Sen. Nyako also recently organised a town hall meeting where he unrolled his plans for the state, giving emphasis on improved revenue, youth and women empowerment, infrastructure and education among others.
A source revealed that Nyako had struck a deal with some notable chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who were allegedly not comfortable with the candidate of their party, Governor Muhammad Jibrilla.
Jibrilla, who is seeking a second term, having realised the challenge he is facing from other contenders, recently employed hundreds of unemployed youth into the civil service and is taking his campaign to the doorsteps of potential voters and opinion leaders.
A week before the presidential election, Jibrilla had received some defectors from other political parties in the state.
Sources close to the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Emmanuel Bello, have however dismissed a rumour that their principal was planning to withdraw from the race and support Fintiri.
Obviously, it is going to be a hot contest in Adamawa.