Jostle begins for new Adamawa governor
Following the impeachment of Adamawa governor Murtala Nyako, many aspirants are seeking their parties’ tickets for the upcoming election for a new governor. Based on provisions of the constitution, a fresh governorship election is to be held within 90 from Tuesday when an acting governor replaced Nyako. The aspirants so far are drawn from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Investigations by Daily Trust revealed that some of the aspirants have started making grassroots contacts to mobilize support for the actualization of their ambitions.
Those actively canvassing for support in the PDP include Senator Abubakar Girei, Alhaji Awwal Tukur, Dr. Umar Ardo, retired General Buba Marwa, Eng. Markus Gundiri, Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong, Dr. Mohammed Modibbo Tukur and Mr Jerry Kundisi.
Those in the APC include Senator Bindo Jibrilla, Alhaji Abdulazeez Nyako, Barrister Boss Mustapha, Alhaji Dahiru Bobbo and Malam Nuhu Ribadu.
Speaking to Daily Trust on phone yesterday, Girei confirmed his desire to contest for the governorship in the next election, saying that Adamawa deserves to be governed by a politician who passed through the process of a free and fair election as against imposition. Ardo also confirmed his interest in the race, saying he remains the man to beat. He said while most of the aspirants left the party at one time or the other, he has never left the party. He said in the case of those who left the party, the PDP constitution stipulates that an aspirant must have stayed two years in the party before he will be eligible to contest an elective position.
“The constitution of the party stipulates that if you leave the party and come back, you must spend not less than two years to qualify and you will lose seniority unless given a waiver,” he said.
Ardo said he is not aware of any zoning arrangement on the governorship, adding that the principle of zoning has long been jettisoned by the party.
Former minister Dr. Hong, also confirmed he would contest as governor whenever INEC gives the go ahead.
He said he is at the forefront of the race and that all the odds favour him as the position has been zoned to the central zone of the state which he says has never produced a governor.
Girei has been nursing gubernatorial ambition since 2003 when he contested with Boni Haruna for the party’s ticket. Ardo contested against Nyako in 2012 and challenged his defeat up to the Supreme Court and has since then remained a strong voice in the state PDP and a leading critic of the Nyako administration.
The Independent National Electoral Commisison (INEC) yesterday told Daily Trust that it was yet to decide on the date for the Adamawa governorship election.