By Bode Olagoke
Abuja
There are indications that despite the zoning of the governorship ticket to Adamawa Central, there has been a fresh plot to concede the position to Governor Bala James Ngilari, even though stakeholders in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state are opposed to his candidature.
Blueprint gathered yesterday that some highly placed persons in the Presidency, including a minister and two former ministers, have been lobbying for Ngilari, who hails from the Northern Senatorial District.
They said since the party had given governors seeking second term the Right of First Refusal, Ngilari should not be left out.
However, our correspondent learnt that PDP leaders and stakeholders in the state are of the opinion that Ngilari’s candidature could not withstand any flag-bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The stakeholders also warned the party against reneging on its promise to zone the governorship ticket to Adamawa Central District, which, according to them, remains the only district that is yet to produce a governor since the state was created.
According to them, the Northern District has presently produced two ministers, the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, the EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde; the Speaker of the House of Assembly.
They said since the zoning of the governorship office to the Central District had been announced to the electorate in the state, it could lead to the switching of votes for the APC that had aspirants in the shape of ex-chairman of EFCC, Malam Nuhu Ribadu; a former governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN), Marcus Gundiri; a former Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Ahmed Modibbo Mohammed; and a former member of the House of Representatives, Auwalu Tukur.
A source, who asked not to be named in print, said: “All along, Ngilari had said that he would vie for the Northern Senatorial District’s ticket, but a serving minister and two former ministers from the Middle Belt are already lobbying the Presidency to give the slot to Ngilari.
“They claimed that since the Acting Governor of Taraba state, Garba Umar, who is a Muslim, is being penciled for PDP ticket in Taraba state, Ngilari, a Christian, should be allowed to fly the party’s ticket in Adamawa. Why are they trying to introduce ethnic and religious politics into a heterogeneous state like ours?
“With this plot, the governorship ticket hitherto zoned to the Adamawa Central District will now be for the Northern District.”
