Despite the zoning of the governorship slot to Adamawa  Central Senatorial District by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders at the weekend,  the  Acting Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has declared the zoning arrangement as a non issue.
Fintiri, who emerged as acting governor following the impeachment of Murtala Nyako  is one of the aspirants for the PDP ticket ahead of the October 11 election.
Addressing newsmen  yesterday, in  Abuja, when he came to submit his nomination form, Fintiri said the proclamation of zoning by the party stakeholders for the 2014 election was misplaced.
He reasoned that zoning should not apply because the October election was not a fresh election, but  meant to complete the term of Murtala Nyako.
His words: “It is the turn of the Central in 2015, not 2014.
What we are contesting now is 2014 election. What we are striving for now is to spend the rest of the tenure of the last governor, Murtala Nyako.”
When asked if he would make himself available in 2015, if he picked the party’s ticket and ultimately  won the by-election, Fintiri answered in the affirmative.
“It is my wish that I wouldn’t  contest the 2015 election, but if it is the wish of the Adamawa people, why not?.”
The acting governor, who claimed to be on a mission to restore Adamawa State to the path of sanity, further declared that Mallam Nuhu Ribadu was no threat to his  ambition.
He said: “I am the right person to continue, because I am the leader of the rescue team. We need to consolidate, so that by 2015, we shall handover to a new government in 2015.
“I am not threatened by the ambition of anybody. They are the ones threatened. How can I be threatened by Ribadu? Where is his structure? what is his base in PDP that I will be afraid of him?”
Fintiri’s vow to retain his office was, however,  countered by another aspirant, Dr Umar Ardo, who  told newsmen in Abuja that the state lawmakers the acting governor claimed to be backing him for the election, were not eligible to vote at the party’s primary by virtue of PDP 2012 Constitution, (as amended).
His remarks: “The government’s structures he is banking on won’t help him at the nomination stage. By virtue of the PDP Constitution, the lawmakers are new in the party and can’t vote.”
However, Ardo aligned with the stance of the  acting governor, that the party’s zoning policy should not apply in the forthcoming Adamawa election.
“This is a bye-election. If they insist on zoning, they should concede to the South. If they said it is the turn of central, they are being unfair to the South that hasn’t completed its term,” he said.
Also speaking with newsmen, former presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, said he was not worried that he has not been granted waiver by the party national working committee.
He said: “I am not worried, I have followed the rule. I have done my bit, I am waiting for the decision of the party.”

….I’ve what it takes to rescue Adamawa –Modibbo

 From TAIWO AMODU, Abuja Former executive secretary of Universal Basic Education (UBEC) and aspirant for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship ticket in Adamawa State, Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Modibbo has kicked against consensus option in the emergence of the party’s candidate. Addressing newsmen yesterday, at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, Modibbo expressed his aversion to the consensus arrangement as he dismissed it as undemocratic.
“I am not afraid of any contestant and the national organising secretary of the party has assured us of a level playing field. Democracy allows the people to decide. Consensus is not really truly representative of the people. Our challenge in Adamawa is imposition and we are not going to repeat that.”
The aspirant expressed confidence that he would emerge victorious at the party’s primary fixed for September 6, declaring that he was the best among the party aspirants.
“I have paid my dues having worked in the public service for 35 years. There have been tremendous pressures on me to come forward and rule the state.
“I have what it takes to rescue Adamawa and God willing, with determination, we should  be able to turn around the fortunes of Adamawa for the better,” he said.
Also  declaring his capacity for the leadership of the state, another aspirant, Idi Hong lamented that Adamawa was at a crossroad considering the enormous challenges facing the state.
He promised to build the human development capacity of the state and rebuild the social infrastructures to stimulate development.
“I know the challenges facing Adamawa state and that’s why I have put myself forward.
Adamawa is at a crossroad. So, we need a dynamic leader, because of the enormous challenges facing the state.
“We need to build human and infrastructural development that haven’t been there for the past 8 years. “Adamawa needs a governor who will work for 24 hours to catch up with other states.”
On the number of aspirants for the party ticket, Hong said it was not unwieldy and noted that “it shows the love and confidence that people have in PDP.”

Guber by-election: No vacancy in Adamawa,  Ag gov tells Ribadu, Marwa, others