Former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, this morning withdrew from the contest for the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the October 11, 2014 Adamawa State governorship election.

He withdrew alongside seven other aspirants, leaving only six aspirants to continue the struggle for the ticket at tomorrow’s PDP primary election, says Adamawa PDP Chairman Joel Madaki.

He named those who withdrew alongside Ribadu as Auwal Tukur; Aliyu Idi Hong, Andrawus Sawa; James Barka; Gen. Aliyu Kama; Markus Gundiri and Abubakar Girei. Those still in the race, according to the report, are Ahmed Gulak, Buba Marwa, Ahmed Modibbo, Dr. Umar Ardo, Jerry Kumdisi and Acting Governor Umaru Fintiri.

Addressing State House correspondents after a marathon meeting of Senate President David Mark and several other PDP chiefs with the aspirants that ended around 1:00 a.m. at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Madaki said: “Fourteen aspirants contesting for the position earlier has now reduced to six aspirants due to this meeting. It is a very welcome idea. Nobody was forced to step them. Those who stepped down did so voluntarily in order to wait to contest for the position in 2015.

“The six aspirants contesting this election are Ahmed Gulak, Buba Marwa, Ahmed Modibbo, Dr. Umar Ardo, Acting Governor Umaru Fintiri, and Jerry Kumdisi.”

Madaki explained that those contesting tomorrow’s primary are barred from running in 2015.

The October 11 bye-election is designed to elect a substantive governor for Adamawa following the recent impeachment of the Governor Murtala Nyako.

•Photo shows Nuhu Ribadu.