Nuhu Ribadu, an Adamawa State governorship aspirant seeking to contest on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has announced his withdrawal from the race.
This was disclosed in a statement by Salihu Bawuro, Director-General of the Nuhu Ribadu Campaign Organisation, yesterday.
Ribadu, who premised his decision on the “anomalies” leading up to the ongoing governorship primary, however, restated his commitment to the party and to working for the re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The organisation also expressed its disappointment with the party’s stand on indirect primaries, noting that it was under “no illusion of a fair contest”.
Ribadu said, he had received tremendous goodwill and support from well-meaning citizens of Adamawa State, party leaders, friends and associates from across Nigeria and beyond since signifying his intention to run for the seat of the governor.
The statement however stated that, “However, while we earnestly prepare to take part in the forthcoming primaries, we noticed with dismay several anomalies, many of which did not start from today.
“While we and greater majority of APC family in Adamawa State supported giving power to the people through direct primaries, the party decided to adopt indirect primaries at the last minute. We have all along expected that this wish of the majority of ordinary members would be respected, and therefore banked on it. But the decision to do otherwise has taken us, and our supporters, aback.
“We were opposed to indirect primaries ab initio because we believe the process that brought those expected to participate in the process was fundamentally flawed. When the party congresses were held in May, we cried that no elections were held in Adamawa and the officials were only handpicked by those who hijacked the process. This was not addressed. We are therefore under no illusion of a fair contest in the hands of those so-called party officials.”
