Ribadu quits primaries, alleges compromise, others

PHOTO: TITTER/NUHU RIBADU

• Benue SDP aggrieved aspirants seek cancellation of exercise
Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, may have withdrawn from governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State.

Party sources disclosed that Mahmood Halilu, Ribadu and Governor Muhammadu Bindow were cleared to contest the rescheduled primaries on Thursday October 4, 2018.But a statement issued by the Director General of Ribadu Campaign Organisation, Salihu Bawuro, said Ribadu withdrew based on compromised modalities for the primaries.

The statement noted that the leadership of the party in the state decided to adopt indirect primaries instead of the direct mode directed by the national leadership, saying it was the reason Ribadu’s supporters prevailed on him to withdraw from the race.

However, another statement issued by APC National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabene, disclosed that the National Working Committee also rescheduled governorship primaries in Lagos and Enugu states.

Meanwhile, aggrieved aspirants of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Benue State have called for a cancellation of the national and state Assembly primaries in the state.Briefing journalists at a press conference yesterday in Makurdi, a senatorial aspirant, Joseph Akaagerger, alleged that the primaries were characterised by irregularities including snatching of electoral materials, violence and votes buying.

According to Akaagerger, predetermined choice of successful candidates, manipulation of election results in the 277 wards, compromise of party officials and undue influence, also marred the exercise.“In spite of the credible congresses earlier conducted at all levels, which produced the state executive officers, the National Secretariat of the party created and recognised a parallel executive in four local councils on the eve of the primaries to favour Senator Barnabas Gemade,” he stated.