Since the return of democratic structures in 1999, Adamawa State have remained a theatre of sort, where a number of bizarre and extreme political measures have been experimented; churning outcome in unusual proportion which has continued to threaten and shake it.

Adamawa is at the moment bedeviled by security challenges especially in the Northern Senatorial Zone.

However the dynamics in the State are not short of a case study for any political analysis.

As the battle for the governorship of Adamawa State intensifies since the return of Barrister Bala Ngillari as Governor, by the court about a month ago, political gladiators have been scrambling for the governorship ticket ahead of the 2015 general elections. The million-dollar question however is who will govern the eventful state.

Since the return of democratic structures in 1999, Adamawa State have remained a theatre of sort, where a number of bizarre and extreme political measures have been experimented; churning outcome in unusual proportion which has continued to threaten and shake it.

Adamawa is at the moment bedeviled by security challenges especially in the Northern Senatorial Zone.

However the dynamics in the State are not short of a case study for any political analysis.

As the battle for the governorship of Adamawa State intensifies since the return of Barrister Bala Ngillari as Governor, by the court about a month ago, political gladiators have been scrambling for the governorship ticket ahead of the 2015 general elections. The million-dollar question however is who will govern the eventful state.

Amongst them is the former Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) boss, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who about six weeks ago withdrew from the October 11th, 2014, botched election, but has now returned to contest for the governorship of the eventful State.

Recent political events in the State, however indicate that Ribadu who is barely two months old in the PDP may be in the race for the number one seat for the fun of participating in the December, 8th, Primaries.

About a forthnight ago, the former EFCC Chairman was literally knocked in what may be tagged as round of the contest, when all gubernatorial aspirants of the PDP and other stakeholders met and agreed that the delegates list for the October, 11th, 2014, botched governorship polls should be used for the December, 8th, 2014, primaries.

The aforementioned decision by the State’s party stakeholders is not only anti Ribadu, but seems to have laid to rest his governorship ambition, atleast in the forthcoming elections.

It would be recalled that, prior to his defection from the APC to the PDP, which came barely a week to the primaries of the October, 11th, by-election, the delegates had already been elected and he had none in his camp.

By implication, the action of the stakeholders mean, the former EFCC boss would be heading to the war front without the needed troops.

The stakeholders resolve to adopt the delegates mean for the October, 11th. 2014, by-polls was due to the current security challenges bedeviling the Northern Senatorial District of the State.

According to Alhaji Abubakar Aminu, a leader of PDP from Ribadu’s ward, the decision of the stakeholders was not targetted at anyone, but for the interest of the party.

“It would be inhuman when our brothers and sisters are being killed and some are in the bush, and PDP will be busy conducting congresses.

“The opposition will finish our image. So nobody should use our decision for any mischief. He stressed.

Also a gubernatorial aspirant under the platform of the PDP, Senator Abubakar Geire, who moved the motion for the adoption of the old delegates lists for the December, 8th, 2014, primaries, argued that since both the delegates and the old aspirants are still in the race and have not left the party, then they should be maintained as party delegates.

“We should becareful in whatever we do; people are watching, especially the opposition parties.

“Our people are in the bush because of the insurgents; so it would be heartless for us to be going round conducting delegates congresses. Since these delegates were recently elected, let us use them. Geire stressed.

However those rooting for Ribadu, seeing his chances being narrowed, exhumed the politics of zoning in the State as an alternative, to scheme out perceived aspirants posing huge threat to their candidate.

This is unfortunately coming from an alleged cabal, who has over the years picked candidates for elections without primaries or non PDP members.

This renewed calls for zoning started when, a group purchased the governorship form for Governor Bala Ngillari, urging him to run for the 2015 polls.

In a reaction to the purchase of the form for the Governor, a group under the aegis of ‘Former Adamawa State Governorship Aspirants’, in a press statement a forthinght ago, in Abuja, said there was a purported agreement that the gubernatorial seat be zoned to the Central Senatorial District of the State. So, Governor Ngillari, is not eligible to run for the seat.

Reacting to the press statement, Alhaji Abubakar Jada, a PDP Chieftain in the State, said, “It is unfortunate that selfish interests make educated people become blind and deaf; I was part of that agreement.

“The agreement was not about zoning, the agreement was that any aspirant that participated in the 2014 governorship by-election will not participate in the 2015 election.

He maintained that if zoning was part was part of the agreement, Dr. Mohammed Modibbo, who is from Adamawa Central and other aspirants would not have been allowed to contest; only aspirants from the Southern zone, where the ousted Governor Murtala Nyako hails from would have been cleared for the polls.

Also a reknowned political analyst and a PDP stalwart in the State, Alhaji Sule Jautu Kefas, said if the National Leadership of the PDP bow to the pressure of the people he called, “Adamawa seven unwise men” operating in Abuja, using President Goodluck Jonathan’s name, “the party will incur the wrath of the electorate and it will lose all the elections in the State.

“If 100 people feel they are qualified to win the governorship of Adamawa State, they should contest. What we want is the best.

“We did zoning in 1999, from Atiku to Haruna and Nyako, but the result is not good for us. So this time, no zoning; we want the best. Merit is now the centrepoint in Adamawa.

“Those clamouring for zoning should either prepare themselves for contest or quit the race.

Kefas argued that if zoning is enshrined in PDP constitution, it should be practised in all PDP controlled States, adding it should not be selective, as some advocates of zoning want it in Adamawa State.

“What is good for the goose is also good for the gander. He stressed.

According to him, since the return to democratic rule in 1999, Kogi State has been ruled by Igalas, they are from one zone, and is a PDP State.

“Since the return of democracy in 1999, there is no governorship zoning in Benue State and it is a PDP State. So also are Bauchi, Rivers, Cross River and and many other PDP controlled States.

“None or group of individuals can think that they will impose their relatives or drivers on the people of the State, hiding under zoning.

“We will resist with the last drop of our blood. All Adamawa sons and daughters that want to contest should come out and contest”.

Senator Silas Jonathan Zwingina, while briefing journalists recently said zoning halts the growth of Democracy and denies the electorate their rights to choose the leader of their choice.

Zwingina added that, only the electorates can use their votes to zone positions and not individuals hiding under party rules to smuggle themselves into power at the detriment of voters.

Barely two weeks after Barrister Bala Ngillari was sworn as Governor of Adamawa State, there has been speculations that he will not contest the 2015 gubernatorial election in the State, but that has been laid to rest as a Coalition of Muslims, Christians and over 70 different non-governmental organizations under the aegis of Mass Progressive Movement {MPM} purchased the governorship form for the Governor to contest.

Leader of the Coalition, Arch. Lawrence Ngbale, while commending the People’s Democratic Party National leadership over its transparency and fairness to all members of the party, said the decision of the different groups to buy the governorship form for Ngillari was due to his desire to provide quality leadership to the people of the State.

Ngbale who spoke with journalists, said, Ngillari was not only the governorship candidate that can bring total victory to PDP in the State, but he is a symbol of unity, development, justice and rule of law.

“I want to inform you that Ngillari did not contribute one kobo to this money that we use to pay for this governorship form, it is the contribution of over 70 different groups that fused together that we their representative is today buying this form. He maintained.

“This is a clear indication that if a leader is not corrupt people know, politics is a game of the majority, so a cabal cannot over rule the decision of the majority because they find themselves in certain positions.

“If Ngillari is good to be deputy governor for over seven years, what is the reason that he is not good to be governor? He asked.

“Those that think Ngillari is good as a Senator, the people of Adamawa said he is better as Governor.

Ngbale recalled how a cabal wanted to stop President Goodluck Jonathan from taking over as President after the dead of President Umaru Ya’adua, it was the decision of majority of Nigerians that the cabal was disgrace from executing their plans to stop Jonathan.

“On behalf of this group I want to assured PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan that with Ngillari as the candidate of PDP for governorship, the President should not come to Adamawa for campaign, the least number of votes he will get from Adamawa is 1.5 million votes.

“This is because they people of the State irrespective of their religion and ethnic group, have united for Ngillari who we all see as the centre of harmony in the State. He stressed.

However, the State’s PDP, Chief Joel Madaki, recently said, with the return of Ngillari as Governor, the former agreement of the party with aspirants did not only collapse, but was void a nullity and has no effect again in the politics of Adamawa PDP.

“Our agreement with gubernatorial aspirants cannot be respected again because Ngillari, who is the Governor now, was not part of that agreement.

“How can you force him to obey an agreement he did not agree to obey or sign? He asked.

“Secondly the agreement was for 2014 gubernatorial by-election and not 2015. Madaki stressed.

“So, people talking about it are only misleading themselves. My appeal to is that they should prepare for contest if they are interested.

“I cannot shave the Adamawa peoples’ heads in their absence. Let them decide who to govern them in 2015”.

The million dollar question remains, will the National Secretariat of the PDP sacrifice Adamawa for a few individuals’ interest at the detriment of the party’s victory come 2015?

On a whole, the person that will emerge as the candidate of the party will determine the propensity of sharpening the future and history of the State and its people.

count | 20

Adamawa 2015: Will Ribadu Survive the Hurdles?