Presidency, Adamawa APC Endorsement of Ribadu’s Return Perturbs Atiku, Governor Bindow

Former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, has returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ribadu accepted the call of Adamawa State chapter of the party seeking his return, along with a former governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN ) in the state, Marcus Gundiri, and their supporters.

The presidency and APC leaders had earlier reached out to him.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir David Lawal, ex-Governor Murtala Nyako, are prominent among those who spoke to Ribadu to rejoin the APC.

A June 22, 2016 letter by the Adamawa State chapter, signed by the Acting State Secretary, Alh. Saidu Naira invited Ribadu thus: “We the entire APC Adamawa State chapter wish to invite you back to your ‘Home party’, APC.

“Given your track records and progressive nature, we strongly believe APC is where you belong to.

“We are also mindful of the efforts and contributions you made during the merger without which the merger would have been difficult.

“To this end, we reaffirm our request for you to come home to APC and assist and contribute to the success of the APC government both at the state and national levels.”

An APC source ascertained that “We decided to invite Ribadu to return to APC because he was frustrated out by some PDP elements who defected to our party during the merger and countdown to 2015 elections.

“Ribadu did so much for APC in Adamawa State but the setback which made him to go to PDP was frustration following a disagreement with some of our leaders, like ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, on the impeachment of ex-Governor Murtala Nyako.

“Ribadu worked tirelessly to save Nyako from impeachment but our leaders paid lip service and stoked the fire which made ex-Speaker Umar Fintiri to remove the former governor.

“The insincerity of APC leaders in the state made Ribadu to defect to PDP against his own volition. So, he left APC as a result of local politics. It was a state affair but today things have changed.

“When Ribadu was pushed to the wall, he had no choice than to pitch tent with the PDP which needed a credible candidate. Ribadu was frustrated out of APC for being a true party man to save Nyako.

“And the PDP elements, who joined APC, were uncomfortable with the anti-corruption stance of Ribadu and his acceptance in the party. So, it was convenient to hatch a plot to kick him out of the party.

“Today Nyako is vindicated and Umar Fintiri is under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“We are now out to correct the past by asking him to return to APC because Nyako has been vindicated. The court said his removal was wrong. Ribadu has also been justified because he insisted that Nyako was a victim of political vendetta and abuse of power. Nyako is back.

“We have realised that we have all wronged Ribadu; we want him back. He has agreed to return to our fold. We are all happy with him.”

However, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Adamawa Governor Jibrilla Bindow, and two others have protested to the National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun and the National Working Committee (NWC) against Ribadu’s return.

They raised the issue during their visit to the APC secretariat on Monday.

But the APC leadership reportedly replied them that the constitution allowed an individual to join a party of his choice and that Ribadu had been accepted by majority of Adamawa chapter.

A member of the NWC, said: “We were all shocked that the ex-VP came with the governor and two others to prevail on the leadership of the party not to readmit Ribadu into APC.

“They spoke of the need for party discipline since Ribadu contested on PDP platform against Bindow. They said Ribadu’s coming back will spell doom for APC unity in the state.

“They all forgot that they were once in PDP too before defecting to APC. Bindow is a former PDP senator.

“Some of us spoke about added value which Ribadu can bring to our party as one of the brains behind the merger politics which led to the birth of APC.

“Contrary to their mission, the leadership at the national level and stakeholders are extremely excited about the return of Ribadu. He is a progressive in thinking and action. The APC needs his service. We became suspicious because no leader of APC at the state level followed them.

“At the end of the day, the party said constitutionally you cannot stop anybody from joining a party. We told the delegation that it is a state issue. If the state executives of APC accept Ribadu, we cannot reject him

“We will, however, do our best to reconcile all members of the party, whether old or new. Our ultimate target is to keep the APC family united.”