Ribadu made a return to the APC after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party

Following the return of Malam Nuhu Ribadu and Marcus Gundiri to the All Progressives Congress (APC), there has been unease in the Adamawa state chapter of the party.

According to Daily Trust, a statement made by the chief of staff to Governor Muhammadu Jibrilla, Abdurrahman Abba Jimeta while kicking against the move, started the impending crisis.

A party chieftain who craved anonymity said the presidency had directed the Adamawa state chapter of the party to organise a grand reception for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate and that of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) who lost to the incumbent governor during the 2015.

Babachir David Lawal, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), who hails from the state, reportedly issued a letter conveying the directive.


It was gathered that some party chieftains wondered why Ribadu would be allowed to return, one year after the party wrested power from the PDP.

The chief of staff addressing party supporters during the flag-off of the construction of the 37- kilometer Kiri-Shelleng road, said the plan to receive Ribadu was a waste of resources and unnecessary glorification of party deserters.

He insisted that the returnees should follow the due process for registration, their statuses notwithstanding.



Speaking during their reception at the state secretariat of the party in Yola on Saturday, July 23, both Ribadu and Gundiri said they did not return to the APC to hijack it from Governor Jibrilla. They promised to work with the governor and other chieftains of the party to move the state forward.

Gundiri  said he simply wanted to contribute more to the development of the party as a founding member.

The acting chairman, Adamawa State chapter of the APC, Ibrahim Bilal, said the matter had been resolved, adding that government officials only had problem with the timing of the rally, not the return of Ribadu and Gundiri.

He also denied reports that the party had been embroiled in crisis involving the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar and Governor Jibrilla on one side, and Babachir and former Governor Murtala Nyako on the other. He said they remained as united as ever, adding that the party would always welcome new members to its fold.

Announcing his return to the party on his facebook page, Ribadu stated that some of the issues that led to his exit in 2015 had been addressed in the last 15 months.

Ribadu, a former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) boss, was a presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) before the party fused into the APC.

Ribadu then left to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under which he contested for the Adamawa state governorship election but lost at the primary. Both the former EFCC boss and former governorship aspirant, Gundiri, reportedly received letters from the Adamawa chapter of the APC to enable them return to the party with their supporters.