Former Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, yesterday registered as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the party’s primaries to pick its candidate for the October governorship bye-election in Adamawa State.

He was registered at Bako Ward in Yola South.

He was until now a member of the APC. He ran for president on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the main partner in the merger of opposition political parties that birthed APC late last year.

Ribadu is expected to pick the PDP nomination form tomorrow in Yola.

His registration had been preceded by meetings with several PDP chieftains and lately with the party’s national chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu.

Some party chieftains are rooting for Ribadu to fly the PDP flag in the October 11 bye-election to replace the impeached Governor Murtala Nyako.

Ribadu is also said to be banking on a presidential aide to push for a waiver for him to contest in the PDP primaries.

The number of PDP governorship aspirants has already increased to six, the latest being ex-Military Administrator of Lagos State, Gen. Buba Marwa; Dr. Umar Ardo, and Mr. Marcus Gundiri.

The nomination process closes on Tuesday sparking an intense horse-trading in the last 48 hours.

It was gathered that Muazu met Ribadu for some hours on Friday as part of the last minute moves to pressurise the ex-EFCC chairman to join the PDP.

Sources said that their discussions centered on the need for waiver for Ribadu to enable him vie for the PDP governorship ticket.

Any defector to PDP is expected to fulfill mandatory two-year membership before aspiring for an elective office unless a waiver is granted by the party’s leadership.

A reliable source said: “I am aware that Mu’azu had a meeting with Ribadu on Friday. In fact, they went for Juma’at Service together before holding talks on issues having to do with the latter’s invitation to PDP.

“This is not the first time the two leaders were meeting or discussing. But I think Friday’s talks had to do with the membership of PDP and the governorship slot of the party.

“It is normal when new entrants are being welcomed. Even some members of the House of Representatives who defected from APGA to PDP had audience with Mu’azu.

“But Adamawa’s case is peculiar. There has been pressure here and there on PDP and Ribadu. Some PDP members welcome Ribadu’s defection, some are vehemently opposed to him. There is division in the party on whether to grant Ribadu a waiver or not.”

The source said some forces, including a presidential aide, are pushing for a waiver for Ribadu.

The presidential aide is currently out of the country.

Another source in Ribadu’s camp said the meeting was a normal consultative type in the present circumstance.

He said: “Irrespective of politics, Mu’azu and Ribadu are friends. We are talking of family bond spilling into politics. This background is necessary to clear some misgivings on the overtures to Ribadu to join PDP.

“Other than serving the state, Ribadu has made it known that he is not a desperado as being portrayed.”

A third source added: “Since the PDP’s nomination form closes on August 19 (Tuesday), Ribadu has less than 48 hours to obtain governorship form.”

A PDP National Secretariat source added: “So far, six aspirants have obtained the form but we do not know whether they will all return the nomination form or not.”

•Adapted from a Nation report. Photo shows Nuhu Ribadu brandishing a broom during his days as an APC chieftain.

Update news