Adamawa Acting Governor, Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has dismissed last weekend’s zoning of the governorship slot to Adamawa Central Senatorial District by stakeholders of the state chapter of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a non issue.

Fintiri, who emerged as acting governor following the impeachment of Murtala Nyako, is one of the aspirants for the PDP ticket ahead of the October 11 election.

Addressing newsmen yesterday in Abuja when he came to submit his nomination form, Fintiri said the proclamation of zoning by the party stakeholders for the 2014 election was misplaced.

He reasoned that zoning should not apply because the October election was not a fresh election, but meant to complete the term of Murtala Nyako.

His words: “It is the turn of the Central in 2015, not 2014. What we are contesting now is 2014 election. What we are striving for now is to spend the rest of the tenure of the last governor, Murtala Nyako.”

When asked if he would make himself available in 2015, if he picked the party’s ticket and ultimately won the by-election, Fintiri answered in the affirmative.

“It is my wish that I wouldn’t contest the 2015 election, but if it is the wish of the Adamawa people, why not?”

The acting governor, who claimed to be on a mission to restore Adamawa State to the path of sanity, further declared that former EFCC Chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, was no threat to his ambition.

He said: “I am the right person to continue, because I am the leader of the rescue team. We need to consolidate, so that by 2015, we shall handover to a new government in 2015.

“I am not threatened by the ambition of anybody. They are the ones threatened. How can I be threatened by Ribadu? Where is his structure? What is his base in PDP that I will be afraid of him?”

Fintiri’s vow to retain his office was, however, countered by another aspirant, Dr. Umar Ardo, who told newsmen in Abuja that the state lawmakers the acting governor claimed to be backing him for the election, were not eligible to vote at the party’s primary by virtue of PDP 2012 Constitution (as amended).

His remarks: “The government’s structures he is banking on won’t help him at the nomination stage. By virtue of the PDP Constitution, the lawmakers are new in the party and can’t vote.”

However, Ardo aligned with the stance of the acting governor, that the party’s zoning policy should not apply in the forthcoming Adamawa election.

“This is a bye-election. If they insist on zoning, they should concede to the South. If they said it is the turn of central, they are being unfair to the South that hasn’t completed its term,” he said.

Also speaking with newsmen, former presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, said he was not worried that he has not been granted waiver by the party national working committee.

He said: “I am not worried, I have followed the rule. I have done my bit; I am waiting for the decision of the party.”

•Adapted from a Daily Sun report. Photo shows Adamawa State Acting Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.