Adamawa Guber: Why Acting Gov Was Disqualified: The intrigues in the Adamawa State governorship by-election took a new turn yesterday as the screening committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) disqualified the acting governor, Alhaji Ahmadu Finitiri, from participating in the PDP primaries scheduled for September 6. This was disclosed by the chairman of the screening committee, former deputy Senate president Ibrahim Mantu, after the five-man committee grilled all 14 aspirants, preparatory to the scheduled party primaries on September 6 and the October 11 governorship by-election. Addressing newsmen after the committee finished a nine-hour screening exercise for all PDP aspirants, Mantu said the acting governor was disqualified because his candidature violated section 191, subsections (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The section does not allow him to transmute from acting governor to substantive governor. It reads: “The Deputy Governor of a State shall hold the office of Governor of the State if the office of Governor becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, impeachment, permanent incapacity or removal of the governor from office for any other reason in accordance with section 188 or 189 of this constitution. (2) Where any vacancy occurs in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (1) of this section during a period when the office of Deputy Governor of the State is also vacant, the Speaker of the House of Assembly of the State ‘shall’ hold the office of Governor of the State for a period of not more than three months, during which there shall be an election of a new Governor of the State who shall hold office for the unexpired term of office of the last holder of the office.” Mantu noted that the acting governor was supposed to serve as a referee in the process and not a participatant in the election. Mantu, who described the acting governor as “a child of circumstance”, noted that the committee had “done a very meticulous job, went through all documents critically and ensured that what is submitted is in conformity with the provision of our constitution”. He added that the governor ought to serve as a midwife in the process and “not be the carrier of the baby”. He noted that the governor is entitled to “appeal against our position as there is going to be an appeal”. The aspirants who were cleared by the five-member committee include former presidential candidate of defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, former political adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan Dr Ahmed Gulak, and former ACN governorship candidate in 2011 Sen. Marcus Gundiri. Others are former executive secretary of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Dr Ahmed Moddibo, former minister of health Dr Aliyu Idi Hong, Dr Umar Ardo, Sen. Abubakar Gerei, Mr James Barka, Mr Jerry Kumdisi, Col. Adrawus Sawa and Alhaji Kama Aliyu. Also screened were son of former PDP national chairman Alhaji Awwal Tukur, former military administrator and Buba Marwa. The committee screened the aspirants to ascertain their commitment and loyalty to the party, their membership card and tax clearance, among other things. However, indication had emerged early on that the acting governor would not be allowed to contest because, after facing the screening committee, Fintiri refused to speak with the press and simply stormed out of the venue. But speaking with newsmen after his screening, Ribadu expressed satisfaction with the screening process and expressed his confidence that the party leadership would ensure transparent primaries. He said, “I pray to God that for the good of the country, for the good people of Adamawa, what is going on today is probably a turning point and a change that is coming in Adamawa State and Nigeria.” On his part, former UBEC executive secretary Moddibo described the screening process as excellent and straightforward, adding that the rest was left for the committee to decide. He however ruled out any intention of stepping down for any other aspirant. Dr Ardo expressed reservations against the waiver granted to Ribadu, Marwa and Gundiri to face the screening ahead of the primaries. He said “I am not satisfied; it did not follow due process. In any case, I will abide by the decision of the party. But I want to tell you that it did not follow due process as it did not emanate from the ward to the other processes.” Dr Ardo alongside five other aspirants had filed a petition to the party leadership asking it not to give a waiver to Ribadu, Marwa and Gundiri who just defected from the APC to the PDP. Another aspirant, and the eldest of the lot, Anrawus Sawa, said that though he had never been screened for governorship, the screening was not controlled, adding that the questions were straightforward and excellent. Sawa, 71, added that, as an elder statesman, he was in the race to ensure sanity in Adamawa and to have a say in the happenings in the state. Sources close to the acting governor said that Fintiri would appeal the outcome of the screening because the screening committee had earlier said that the acting governor had the right to appeal their decision before an appeal committee. Adamawa APC welcomes Fintiri’s disqualification The publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Phineas Padio, has commended the PDP for disqualifying the acting governor, saying it is a right step in the right direction. Padio said the action is a deserved treatment for “a traitor”, as his actions over time have shown he felt no compunction to betray people that assisted him. He said Nyako singlehandedly helped Fintiri to become a member of the House of Assembly when his people rejected him only for him to come back and impeach the governor in order to succeed him in power. “Despite all what Nyako did for him, Fintiri turned against Governor Nyako by spearheading the impeachment of the then speaker, Sadiq Dasin, who was loyal to Nyako. The governor had wanted the speakership slot to be given to the Central zone in order to balance the power equation in the state. Nyako as governor was from the South, his deputy Ngillari was from the north, while Speaker Dasin was from the Central. “After the removal of Mr Dasin, Fintiri took over the speakership despite being from the North, where the deputy governor hails from and later impeached the governor just to succeed him.” But the deputy publicity secretary of the PDP, Hon. Lawal Habu, said he could not react as he was not officially informed about the development, adding that he would respond at the appropriate time. The acting governor had had to contend with a petition written against him to the national leadership of the PDP by some youth in the PDP alleging that Fintiri was not eligible as he was a registered APC member at Kirshinga in K/Wuro Ngayandi ward in Madagali local government area. However, the acting governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, has denied ever registering with the APC. Fintiri, who spoke earlier through his press secretary, Solomon Kumanga, said the whole drama was orchestrated by mischievous elements to deal a blow on the political fortunes of Fintiri. Why Fintiri was stopped: the PDP govs’ connection Meanwhile, indications emerged that Fintiri was stopped by the influential PDP Governors’ Forum led by Akwa Ibom State governor Godswill Akpabio, fuelling speculations that his disqualification was deliberate. The governors had made frantic efforts to stop both Fintiri and Ribadu. While they hinged their reason for Fintiri’s as a move aimed at discouraging rebellion from other assembly speakers, that of Ribadu was seen as a yet-to-abate political rivalry. LEADERSHIP had exclusively reported, two weeks ago, that both the Presidency and the national leadership of the PDP were in a dilemma over Fintiri’s ambition. One of the PDP governors who spoke on the Adamawa race last week had warned that Fintiri’s ambition was a possible wrong signal to other speakers. “The ambition of the acting governor is very immoral and uncalled for. Apart from the wrong signals it might send to other speakers, it would alter the equation the party is looking at. It is a case of the devil and the deep blue sea. “But as a sitting governor, there is no way it could be mentioned to him pointedly that he should not run,” he said. Fintiri fights back, mulls plan B But the acting governor is poised to fight back, it was learnt. In a move seen as plan B, Fintiri has already given indications to nine of the aspirants that he would back one of them. The nine aspirants who signed a protest letter against waiver for Ribadu, Marwa , Gundiri and Modibbo are Dr Umar Ardo, Senator Abubakar Girei, Dr Idi Hong, Alhaji Awwal Tukur and Ahmed Gulak. Others are Aliyu Kama , Jerry Kundisi, James Bawa and Andrawa Shawa. Leadership Sunday gathered that these nine aspirants will leave for Yola today in a chartered flight provided by Fintiri. They are to address the Joel Madaki-led state executive committee of the PDP at 3 pm today. Although details of Fintiri’s plans were sketchy last night, a source close to the nine aspirants confided in our correspondent that the acting governor would facilitate a hasty consensus arrangement that will throw up one aspirant to run against the trio of Ribadu, Marwa and Modibbo. Stay up to date, follow us on Twitter; @LeadershipNGA Original link Read More goo.gl/Tx1mHL (y) ✍comment ☏share
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 03:15:43 +0000
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