Controversy surrounds Ribadu's defection to PDP

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has said it is
not aware that the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial a
Crimes Commission, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu has defected to the party from the
All Progressives Congress.It said that though there were rumours that
he had defected to the party, Ribadu was yet to formally defect to the
ruling party.

The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Ibrahim Jalo,
who spoke with our correspondent in Abuja on Saturday, said because of
this, there was no way the party would react to the rumour of his
defection or not.He said, "We have not been told that he has defected.
There are rumours here and there, but as I speak with you, we have not
been told he has moved."It is after the official defection that we can
be able to say whether he had moved or not and whether he will get
waiver or not. Even at that, he has to ask for the waiver."Ribadu is
under pressure from the national leadership of the party and the
Presidency to defect and contest the governorship election of Adamawa
State under the platform of the ruling PDP.The former chairman of the
EFCC was the presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of
Nigeria in 2011.Our correspondent learnt in Abuja that those who have
so far indicated interest to contest the election under the platform
of the PDP are the former Military Administrator of Lagos State,
General Buba Marwa, former Senator representing Adamawa Central,
Abubakar Girei, a former Political Adviser to the President, Ahmed
Gulak, and former Minister, Idi Hong.Others include: Dr. Umar Ardo,
former Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education
Commission, Dr. Ahmed Modibo, Mr. Markus Gundiri and the son of former
PDP national chairman, Mr. Awual Tukur.The acting Governor, Bala
Ngilari has also announced his intention to contest following the
pressure he received from 13 of his colleagues from the State House of
Assembly.

PUNCH