Ribadu and the lost race in Adamawa

These factors include President Jonathan’s extreme unpopularity in the north, Buhari’s cult-like followers in the region, and most Nigerians being angry with the PDP, especially at its failure to combat the insurgency that has devastated the North-East. In fact, in some parts of Nigeria, including Adamawa State, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was overwhelmingly rejected […]

These factors include President Jonathan’s extreme unpopularity in the north, Buhari’s cult-like followers in the region, and most Nigerians being angry with the PDP, especially at its failure to combat the insurgency that has devastated the North-East. In fact, in some parts of Nigeria, including Adamawa State, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was overwhelmingly rejected to the point that anybody the All Progressives Congress (APC) presented, was voted for.
Apart from the above factors that affected Ribadu’s fortunes in the Adamawa governorship race, there are other factors which were peculiar to his ambition. The internal crisis within the PDP was a major one. The crisis was not settled up to the time of elections, and the aggrieved were not fully integrated into the party.
The Atiku factor was another of Ribadu’s albatross. At the tail-end of the governorship campaign, he became very determined to deliver his state to the APC, and this affected Ribadu in the southern part of Adamawa, especially in the Chamba chiefdom.
The Adamawa governorship election results have some far-reaching political implications on the state’s polity. There are losers and winners. Former governor Murtala Nyako is a winner, in the sense that most of his political associates won elective posts and his political foes suffered defeat. Senator Mohammed Jibril Bindawa can be said to be a winner, too, as he has assumed a post of prime political relevance, though his political future will be determined by the way he approaches the much-needed development in the state and  his ability to free himself from the shackles of Nyako’s men.
The sad part of this narrative is that Ribadu remains the best governor Adamawa couldn’t have. He fought a good battle, but PDP’s extreme unpopularity weakened him and his chances. That said, a good conclusion is to declare the former EFCC boss an excellent candidate who came out to contest at the wrong time.
Muhammad writes from Jimeta, Adamawa State ([email protected])