By Lawrence Olaoye
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will meet today to deliberate on the applications for waiver by three of the party’s governorship hopefuls at the October 11th bye election in Adamawa state.
Those who have applied for waivers to contest the party’s governorship primary scheduled for 6th of September include Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa (rtd), former Military Administrator of Lagos state and one other whose identity could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report.
A source in the NWC disclosed that the council would consider the merit of the waiver applications and grant anticipatory approval pending the final ratification by the party’s National Executive Council (NEC).
The source said “I can confirm to you that the NWC will discuss the waiver issue for the Adamawa aspirants at its weekly meeting tomorrow(today),I think about three applications or so were received. They will need the waiver to complete their nomination forms. Any aspirant without waiver is automatically disqualified”, the source declared.
Ribadu had through a letter dated August 16 this year formally applied to the party for a waiver having defected from the main opposition, the All Progressive Congress, APC to the PDP to pursue his governorship ambition.
However, other aspirants have reportedly kicked against granting Ribadu any waiver, alleging that the move was aimed at imposing him as the party’s candidates when the party had many qualified governorship materials among the old members
While commenting on the development, the National Secretary of the Party, Professor Wale Oladipo said that it was not only in Adamawa state the party had received applications for waiver but from other states of the federation. He however assured that all applications would be treated on merits
Meanwhile, the number applicants for the Adamawa governorship bye election on the platform of the PDP has 14 as at yesterday.
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