TheCable

Malam Nuhu Ribadu will be granted an ‘accelerated waiver’ to contest in the October 11 governorship election in Adamawa State following his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), TheCable understands.

Under the constitution of the party, new members and returnees are not qualified to seek elective positions until after two years ─ except they get a waiver.

Section 50 (9) of the PDP constitution says: “There shall be a minimum of two year membership span for a member to be eligible to stand for election into any public office, unless the appropriate executive committee gives a waiver or rules to the contrary.”

In the case of governorship, the stipulated authority is the national executive committee (NEC), through the national working committee (NWC), according to section 50 (9) (b) which also says the process must start from the ward level.

Ribadu last week registered at his Bako ward, Yola north LGA, and has been issued with the party’s membership card.

TheCable understands that the process for the waiver will be kick-started on Monday, while he is expected to pick the governorship nomination form later in the week.

“The waiver will be accelerated. Ribadu’s defection is the project of the national leadership of the party. The national chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, is fully involved,” a national officer of the party told TheCable.

Ribadu’s entry into PDP is generating  controversy among his followers, many of whom feel he had disappointed them by dumping the “progressive camp” ─ the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In 2011, the former chairman of EFCC was the presidential candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), one of the constituent units of APC.

Aside his supporters’ misgivings, however, Ribadu faces a big challenge in the Adamawa chapter of PDP where other political heavyweights are eyeing the governorship.

Former governor of Borno and Lagos states Brig-Gen. Mohamed Marwa (rtd), acting governor Ahmadu Fintiri and former presidential adviser Ahmed Gulak are all interested in the race.

Others are Hon. Awwal Tukur, son of former PDP chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and Dr. Idi Hong, former minister.

TheCable reported on Sunday that Ribadu defected to the PDP to avoid being a “political orphan”, having been frozen out of the presidential ticket of APC while the state chapter of the party has virtually collapsed following mass defection to PDP.

He is yet to openly speak on his decision, but a confidant told TheCable on Sunday: “He knows very well that there will be a backlash, that people will abuse him all over the internet. He is prepared for it.”

The friend only agreed to speak on the condition that he would not be named because “Nuhu can speak for himself”.

“If you want to change society, you can decide to be idealistic or pragmatic. It is your choice. Nuhu wants to impact on Nigeria as a public administrator and he needs to get in a good position to do so. I think we should respect his decision. He knows what he is doing,” the confidant said.