Adamawa state governorship election but lost at the primary.The former EFCC boss and another former governorship aspirant, Marcus Gundiri, have reportedly received letters from the Adamawa chapter of the APC to enable them return to the party with their supporters.The Nation reports that following this development, Atiku Abubakar, Adamawa state Governor Jibrilla Bindow, and two others have protested to national chairman of the party John Odigie-Oyegun as well as the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) against Ribadu’s return.But the party has rebuffed the protesters arguing that the constitution allows individuals to join parties of his choice. Moreover, the state chapter of the party has accepted the duo, therefore there is less the national headquarters can do about it.According to The Nation, Ribadu accepted to return to APC following overtures from leaders of the party at the national level as well as ex-Governor Murtala Nyako, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, the state and local government chapters of the party.The letter from the state chapter of the party, dated June 22, 2016 and signed by the acting secretary, Alhaji Saidu Naira, reads: “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.”The report quoted a source within the party as saying: “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.”The source said Ribadu has accepted the offer.Another source within the party revealed how Atiku, Bindow, the secretary to the Adamawa state government and the chief of staff on Monday, July 18 protested to John Odigie-Oyegun and the NWC.“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,” the source said.
Naij
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