Six Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Adamawa governorship aspirants have resolved to boycott the September 6 primaries and sue the party if it gives waiver to former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, to run in the primaries.

The aspirants say they suspect that Ribadu, who recently defected from the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), is being favoured by powerful forces in the presidency and that he may not only be granted waiver but favoured to pick the party’s ticket for the October 11 governorship election.

The six aspirants, who met in Abuja on Tuesday, resolved that since it was becoming glaring that the Presidency is bent on supporting Ribadu, it would be best to register their protests by not participating in the primary and to further challenge the process in court.

Those at the meeting, according to a reliable source, were Dr. Umar Ardo, Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong, Senator Abubakar Girei, Alhaji Awwal Tukur and Alhaji Ahmed Gulak.

One of the aspirants, who informed our correspondent of the development, said they consider it as a slight that those of them who have worked for the party for several years would be shut out while a recent joiner would be given consideration.

Another source at the meeting told our correspondent that the grounds for suing the party would be that Ribadu did not get a clearance from his local government after he was cleared by his ward.

He said the issue extends to Markus Gundiri and Buba Marwa because both of them did not get all the clearances required.

The source said those at the meeting were all unanimous that the Presidency should consider the plight of old members of the party so as not to encourage opportunists.

“If we cannot stop them from killing the party through persuasion, we can at least take the necessary legal action,” he stated.

Dr. Ardo, who confirmed there was such a meeting, said they are united on the issue as they are pained that somebody who worked against the interest of the party in its bid to remove Murtala Nyako would now be the beneficiary of the struggle.

Ribadu’s spokesman Abdulazeez Abdulazeez, when contacted, declined comment, saying it is between the aspirants and the party.

•Adapted from a Daily Trust report. Photo shows Nuhu Ribadu.

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