Adamawa Guber: Atiku Moves To Displace PDP

Following the crisis currently rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa State, former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has begun moves to capture his home state for his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the governorship election billed to hold next month.

LEADERSHIP Friday gathered that Atiku is banking strongly on his growing profile as the undisputed leader of the APC in the state which has blossomed with the impeachment of former Governor Murtala Nyako and the defection of the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu to the PDP last Saturday to test his political might in the forthcoming governorship by-election in the state.

A source close to the state chapter of the APC told our correspondent that the party leaders have turned to Atiku for direction in the battle to capture Adamawa by ensuring the choice of a formidable candidate who would take advantage of the confusion created by the defection of Ribadu to the PDP.
He said the crisis generated by te alleged bid by the national chairman of the PDP, Adamu Mu’azu and the principal personal secretary to the president, Hassan Tukur to impose Ribadu on the party as its candidate for the October 11 governorship poll, some elders in the state have approached Atiku to lead the way and give a sense of belonging to the generality of the people of the state to ensure equity and fair play.

The source said the former VP has cashed in on the crisis rocking the PDP in the state and is believed to have thrown his weight behind Barrister Boss Mustapha, a Christian from Kilba ethnic group for the governorship race. It was further gathered that Atiku’s resolve to support Mustapha is based on the request of some Christian leaders who met and pleaded with him to give them a Christian candidate as a form of compensation.