The controversy over the waiver application for former presidential candidate Malam Nuhu Ribadu, former military administrator Buba Marwa and former governorship candidate Marcus Gundiri, ahead of the Adamawa governorship by-election, was finally put to rest yesterday as the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) granted them waiver to face the screening panel today and possibly the primaries on September 6.
This was disclosed at a press conference by the national publicity secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metu, who also declared that the party does not have a preferred candidate and stressed that all aspirants will test their popularity at the party’s primaries.
The waiver was sequel to the approval of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP after a subcommittee headed by the national organising secretary of the PDP, Abubakar Mustapha, deliberated on the waiver applications of the aspirants.
The PDP had, after extensive deliberations by the National Working Committee (NWC) on Wednesday, set up the subcommittee to address the application waivers of the three aspirants; the report was submitted yesterday.
But Metu, who also served in the subcommittee, said “after very careful and thorough consideration of all applications and the report of the Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha-led Adamawa State PDP Governorship Waiver Committee, the NWC was satisfied that all the aspirants met the requirements stipulated by the PDP constitution to participate in the process.
“Consequently, waiver has been granted to General Buba Marwa, Engr. Marcus Gundiri and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to take part in the exercise.”
While justifying the decision to grant waiver to Ribadu and others, in spite of petitions by seven other aspirants, the PDP spokesman said the party was guided by the spirit and content of its constitution.
He however added: “We are happy that these three notable and eminent Nigerians are on the platform of our party.”
He however denied insinuations that the party’s hierarchy was split over the waiver issue for the three aspirants, noting “the NWC debunks speculations that its members were divided on the grant of the waiver and reiterates that the decision to open the space for wider participation was unanimously adopted after very extensive deliberations”.
Reacting specifically to a petition filed by seven aspirants over the appropriateness of granting waiver to Ribadu and five others, Metu noted that the subcommittee got the petition but advised the petitioners to present it before the screening panel.
He continued: “As for Modibbo (former chairman of Universal Basic Education Commission) and the other aspirants, it was completely outside our scope. If anybody feels that any aspirant is not qualified they should make the petition to appropriate committee, which is the screening panel. “They were right on their letter to the subcommittee on the three aspirants and we duly considered the content of their committee. But they should forward such protests to the screening panel.”
Metu, who refuted reports that the NWC of the party visited the Presidency yesterday over the matter, assured aspirants that the NWC would not interfere with the party’s primaries. “The nomination process, including screening of aspirants as well as the primary election will be conducted with utmost transparency and strict adherence to rules and the principles of justice, fairness and equity.”
On the protest by former federal minister of information and elder statesman Chief Edwin Clark over the issuance of waiver to Ribadu, Metu said “we will not make any comment on the statement by elder statesman and father of the nation Chief Edwin Clark, but the NWC has taken a decision.”
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries for Adamawa State would hold on September 7 for seven aspirants who have submitted their nomination forms.
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