PDP Stops Adamawa Ag. Governor From Contesting Bye-election

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has disqualified the acting governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, from contesting in the September 6 primary election of the party, for the emergence of the party’s candidate for the October 11 gubernatorial election in Adamawa State.

Addressing journalists after the nine hours screening exercise, yesterday, Chairman of the PDP screening panel for Adamawa State and former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ibrahim Nasir Mantu, said that the panel, while relying on Section 191(2) of 1999 Constitution, decided that the acting governor could contest because he was a child of circumstance, a midwife and not the woman carrying the baby.

Mantu, who noted that the Adamawa acting governor could not contest the election because it would go against the provision of Section 191, Sub section 2 of the Constitution of the country, said: “He (Fintiri) was not cleared because, as far as far as we are concerned, Section 191, Sub section 2 of the Constitution does not permit him to transform from acting capacity to a substantive governor.”

Of the 14 aspirants who appeared before the Mantu-led committee, only the acting governor was disqualified while the rest were cleared to participate in the PDP primary election.

The five-member panel was set up by the PDP National Working Committee, NWC, to screen the aspirants who purchased the expression of interest and nomination forms.

Besides Mantu, other members of the committee were former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin; Amina Jambo; Mai Adamu Mustapha and Salisu Dabo, who was absent.

Those cleared by Mantu committee to go for the primary election are Dr. Umar Ardo; former Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Senator Abubakar Girei; former Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Political Matters, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak; Erstwhile Military Administrator of Lagos and Borno States, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa and former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Aliyu Idi- Hong.

Others are the immediate past Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Dr. Ahmed Modibbo Mohammed; Son of former PDP National Chairman, Awwal Bamanga Tukur; Marcus Natina Gundiri; James Shuiabu Barka; Jerry Kundusi; Engr. Brig. Gen. Aliyu A.V. Kama and Prof. Andrawus Sawa.

Present for the screening were the 14 aspirants who purchased the expression of interest and nomination forms.

by Greenstarnetwork admin..