TheCable

Hon. Awwal Tukur (pictured), son of former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, is in the race to succeed Vice Admiral Murtala Nyako as governor of Adamawa State, party sources have informed TheCable.

The former member of the house or representatives, who maintains a low public profile, is going to face a formidable challenge for the party’s ticket with former military administrator of Lagos State, Brig-General Mohamed Marwa, who is also in the race.

Mr. Markus Gindiri, a popular politician in the state, is preparing to give the governorship another shot, having tried unsuccessfully in 2011 on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Ambassador James Shaibu Barka, former speaker of the Adamawa State house of assembly and former acting governor of the state, is also expected to contest.

Another likely candidate is Idi Hong, former minister of state for health and protege of former education minister, Professor Jibril Aminu.

However, the battle for the ticket is likely going to be a straight fight between Tukur and Marwa because of local political dynamics.

Tukur’s ambition has been controversial because of the role of his father. This was a factor in his ouster as PDP chairman as well as the eventual impeachment of Nyako.

While the older Tukur was rooting for his son, Nyako was rooting for his own heir, Abdul-Aziz, and both fathers sought to control the machinery of the state PDP in order to actualise their personal plans.

Tukur, using his power as national chairman, dissolved the state party exco led by Nyako’s ally, Minjiyawa Kugama. Nyako later defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) after teaming up with anti-Tukur forces in the PDP.

As PDP chairman, Tukur always defended his son’s governorship ambition, telling the media at a time: “He was in politics before I became the chairman. He was in the house of representatives before I became the chairman. I leave my son to be what he wants to be. I cheer him up if he is looking for leadership, why not.

“My job as chairman of the party is not to promote any individual or stop any individual from expressing his desire. I have already told my party members and my God that I want to lead this party based on equity and justice and fair play. And I said, there should be no imposition. So let the members of the party decide whom they want as their leader at every level; that is where I stand.

“Whoever they want should be their leader. I am not interested if he is my son or she is my daughter. If you are my son or my daughter so what? Those who are governors, are they not sons of some individuals? If they are daughters, are they from the tree? They are sons and daughters of some persons. If he says he wants to be governor, I will clap for him.”

Awwal, 47, holds an LL.B (Hons) from the University of Birmingham and was called to bar in 1988.

The governorship election will hold latest October 15, 2014 in accordance with constitutional requirement.