This is even as the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN’s) presidential flag bearer in the 2011 election is set to obtain his nomination form for the October 11 Adamawa governorship bye-election from the PDP national secretariat and proceed to Yola to kick-start his electioneering campaign.
This has put paid to speculations that have been making the rounds in the past weeks over alleged plans by the Presidency and the leadership of the PDP to woo the former anti-graft Czar to join the ruling party.
Sunday Trust’s investigation revealed that Ribadu, at the weekend, returned his membership card with the APC with registration number: AGA/YOS/02009301 to the chairman of the party in his Bako Ward of Yola South Local Government Area and obtained a new membership card from the ward chairman of the ruling party, who issued him the card with registration number: 1933795.
Confirming Malam Ribadu’s membership withdrawal from the opposition party, the Chairman of Bako Ward in Yola South Local Government Area, Usman Musa Pola, said the former EFCC boss returned the APC membership card last Thursday (August 14) through a member of the party who hails from the same ward. Sunday Trust’s checks further revealed that the return of the APC membership card, which was obtained by Ribadu on February 5, 2014 at the ward, was accompanied with a withdrawal letter.
“I can confirm to you that Mallam Nuhu Ribadu’s membership card of our party (APC) was returned and handed over to me last Thursday through a member of my party from this ward. It was accompanied with a withdrawal letter and we are now in possession of the returned card,” Pola said.
Similarly, the Bako Ward Chairman of the PDP in Yola North Local Government Area, Hamidu Aji, confirmed to Sunday Trust that Ribadu had registered at the ward at the weekend and was issued a PDP membership card, adding that Ribadu’s request was conveyed through a covering letter. “After registering him the executives at the ward level have written to the State and national chapters of the party intimating them of the development,” Aji said.
Further investigation by Sunday Trust revealed that by renouncing his membership of the opposition party and joining the ruling PDP, Ribadu is now set to obtain his nomination form from the PDP national secretariat and proceed to Yola, the Adamawa State capital, to kick-start his campaign for the party’s ticket in the forthcoming bye election.
Sunday Trust checks revealed that, at the weekend, finishing touches were being put to the renovation of a massive apartment donated by a party faithful, which is located at No. 8 Ahmadu Bello Way, Jimeta-Yola. It would serve as the Secretariat of the Nuhu Ribadu Campaign Organization. When our reporter visited, the apartment was being painted with PDP colours and logo, even as poles were being erected to hoist the party’s flags.
It was also gathered that an elaborate campaign team to be headed by one Honourable Saleh Kinjir, a former Commissioner for Local Governments during the tenure of former Governor Boni Haruna, has already been put in place, preparatory to the arrival of Ribadu in Yola today (Sunday) for the formal inauguration of the campaign organization tomorrow(Monday).
The elaborate campaign team is comprised of standing committees on: Governance (which would formulate policies on the proposed PDP government under Ribadu); Finance, Research and Planning as well as media and legal consultants.
The Chairman of the Concerned Youth for Good Governance, a pressure group that been pressurizing Ribadu to join the PDP and run the Adamawa bye-election, Isa Ibrahim Toungo, told our reporter that they were glad that Ribadu had hearkened to their calls and had registered and obtained PDP membership card to contest the election.
“Having registered at his Bako ward in Yola-South and obtained his PDP membership card, we are happy that Ribadu is now a bonafide member of our party”, Toungo said.
The Adamawa State Secretary of the PDP, Barrister Tahir Shehu, confirmed to Sunday Trust that the chairman of the Bako Ward of the party had informed the state secretariat of the PDP about Ribadu’s decision to join the party. “I was informed by his (Ribadu’s) ward chairman that he had sent a letter denouncing his membership of the APC and joining the PDP”, Shehu said.
. Returns APC Membership Card No: AGA/YOS/02009301
. Obtains PDP Membership Card No: 193395
. Picks PDP Governorship Nomination Form This Week
Source: Daily Trust