The defection of former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday has started to generate ripples within and outside the party in Abuja and Adamawa State.

Ribadu was the presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) that later fused with some other opposition political parties to form the All Progressives Congress (APC), of which he was one of its national leaders.

News Express gathered that the defection of Ribadu to PDP is already polarising the party in Adamawa State, several party chiefs kicking against the alleged attempt by PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, to foist him as the candidate of the party for the October 2014 governorship bye-election.

The move by the PDP National Chairman is believed to be enjoying the support and collaboration of the Principal Private Secretary to President Goodluck Jonathan, Alhaji Hassan Tukur, an indigene of Adamawa State said to be pulling the strings at the Presidency in support of Ribadu.

However, the support for Ribadu is believed to have hit a brick wall as majority of the elders of the party in the state may have reached out to President Goodluck Jonathan to advise him over the possible consequence ‘a Ribadu candidature’ would have on the fortunes of the party in the governorship election in the state and the 2015 presidential election.

It was gathered that some members of PDP in the state that include Acting Governor, Hon. Umaru Fintiri, former Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, and a party chieftain in the state, Dr. Panny Boga, who was in the forefront of the fight against the alleged maladministration of impeached governor of the state, Murtala Nyako, have vowed to work against the interest of the party in the state should their past efforts and hard work to keep the party intact be jettisoned.

News Express learnt that the aggrieved party members met with other stakeholders in Yola from last night till the wee hours of today. Sources said they wondered why Ribadu, who joined former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to thwart the impeachment process of Nyako by members of the Adamawa State House of Assembly in addition to the garbage of insults he poured on the PDP, suddenly became a bride as against those that fought to keep the party afloat in the face of extreme difficulties.

A source at the meeting said: “The National Chairman of the party has a choice to make and the choice is simple: Ribadu or the party’s victory. The Osun outing of PDP is still fresh and must be noted that it has a long way in affecting the 2015 presidential election.

“This was how we fought in 2007 and the ticket was eventually given to Murtala Nyako, who was a member of the ANPP then and we are all witnesses to the eventual result. What is the difference between what happened in 2007 and now with regard to Nyako and now Ribadu? Can’t our leaders ever see the handwriting on the wall and learn?”

Among those who have already indicated interest to contest the governorship ticket of PDP are former Lagos and Borno States military administrator, Brig-General Buba Marwa, and former governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria in Adamawa State, Engr. Marcus Gundiri, who recently defected from APC.

•Photo shows Nuhu Ribadu.

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