TheCable

Mr Markus Gundiri, a governorship aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa, says aspirants should be given equal opportunity to test their popularity through a primary election.

Gundiri (pictured) told NAN on Thursday that there should be a free and fair primary election to determine the party’s candidate for the October 11 governorship election and that there is not truth in the rumour that former EFCC boss, Mr Nuhu Ribadu, has been endorsed as the consensus candidate of the PDP.

Gundiri, former governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria in 2011, said the primary election would encourage fair play and equity in the party.

“I don’t believe that candidates should be selected on the basis of how long they have stayed in the party.

“I sincerely believe that there should be no segregation. There should be a level playing ground for all of us. Our ultimate priority should be how to build Adamawa State,” he said.

Gundiri said the defection of Ribadu from the All Progressive Congress (APC) to the PDP was healthy for the development of democracy in the state.

He said that those opposed to the governorship ambition of Ribadu were not true democrats and were against the growth of democracy.

“I think the number of people vying for the governorship position in the forthcoming election is a sign of democracy in action in Adamawa state.

“I am not one of those saying Ribadu should not come into the PDP, his coming into the party will increase our population and that is good for any political party,” he said.