A former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has picked the Peoples Democratic Party’s Expression of Interest form to enable him contest the governorship primaries of the party in Adamawa State.The form was picked on his behalf by one of his political aides, Alhaji Hamidu Mahmoud, at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.The party will end sale of form to its governorship aspirants on August 19, 2014.Ribadu, it would be recalled had last Saturday registered as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the party’s primaries to pick its candidate for the October governorship bye election in Adamawa State.


He was registered at Bako Ward in Yola South.He was until then a member of the APC. He ran for president on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)His registration had been preceded by meetings with several PDP chieftains and lately with the party’s national chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu.Some party chieftains are rooting for Ribadu to fly the PDP flag in the October 11 bye-election to replace the impeached Governor, Murtala Nyako.Ribadu is also said to be banking on a presidential aide to push for a waiver for him to contest in the PDP primaries.The number of PDP governorship aspirants has already increased to six, the latest being ex-Military Administrator of Lagos State, Gen. Buba Marwa; Dr. Umar Ardo, and Mr. Marcus Gundiri.

The nomination process closes today sparking an intense horse-trading in the last 48 hours.It was gathered that Muazu met Ribadu for some hours on Friday as part of the last minute moves to pressurise the ex-EFCC chairman to join the PDP.Sources said that their discussions centred on the need for waiver for Ribadu to enable him vie for the PDP governorship ticket.Any defector to PDP is expected to fulfil a mandatory two-year membership before aspiring for an elective office, unless a waiver is granted by the party’s leadership.A reliable source said: “I am aware that Muazu had a meeting with Ribadu on Friday. In fact, they went for Jumat Service together before holding talks on issues having to do with the latter’s invitation to PDP.

“This is not the first time the two leaders were meeting or discussing. But I think Friday’s talks had to do with the membership of PDP and the governorship slot of the party.“It is normal when new entrants are being welcomed. Even some members of the House of Representatives who defected from APGA to PDP had audience with Muazu.“But Adamawa’s case is peculiar. There has been pressure here and there on PDP and Ribadu. Some PDP members welcome Ribadu’s defection, some are vehemently opposed to him. There is division in the party on whether to grant Ribadu a waiver or not.”
The source said some forces, including a presidential aide, are pushing for a waiver for Ribadu. The Presidential aide is currently out of the country.