TheCable

Nuhu Ribadu says he has no intention of challenging the court of appeal decision which affirmed Aishatu Binani as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa state.

Binani, the senator representing Adamawa central, defeated Nuhu Ribadu, former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and Jibrilla Bindow, former governor of the state, to win the primary held on May 26.

Ribadu had challenged the outcome of the election before the federal high court.

In the judgment, Abdulaziz Anka, judge of a federal high court in Yola, nullified the primary and ordered that a fresh primary be conducted.

However, the court of appeal, on November 24, overturned the high court’s judgment and affirmed Binani as the party’s authentic candidate.

In a letter addressed to the acting chairman of the party in the state, Ribadu said after consulting with “family, political associates and party leaders at different levels on the next step”, he has decided not to take the matter to the supreme court.

“My motivation in aspiring to govern the state is for an opportunity to serve my dear state as my contribution for a more purposeful future for the state,” he said.

“It was a project started at the instance of well-meaning friends and associates who prodded me with the belief that I have the experience and wherewithal that could be of tremendous help to leapfrog the development of our state.

“I want to use this opportunity to thank those well-wishers and my teeming supporters who sacrificed a lot and offered unflinching support for the tremendous goodwill and immense support I received from them over the years. 

“This is my second attempt to pick the ticket of our party. In 2019, I offered myself but missed the opportunity to become the candidate of my party. It is however on record that to show good spirit of sportsmanship and protect the interest of my party, the APC, I buried the hatchet to work for the person who picked the ticket and supported him to the end, in spite of opposition against that stance from some of my supporters.”

Ribadu added that although he disagrees with the judgment, he would allow the status quo remain for the unity of the party.

“We disagree with the judgment but I have no intention of dragging this any further,” he said.

“I have decided to allow the status quo remain for the larger interest of the party and its unity.

“As a true party man, I call on all my supporters to not despair but to remain faithful to our party.

“We should not let any setback affect our enthusiasm and support for our great party. I call on all my supporters to support all our candidates. 

“I also specifically express my deep appreciation to the state leadership of the party under your leadership for the support and encouragement and urge you all to remain steadfast in the service of our party.”