Fintiri beats Marwa to Adamawa PDP gov ticket

Acting Governor of Adamawa State, Umar Fintiri

The Acting Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, who was initially disqualified by a screening committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, has emerged as the candidate of the PDP for the October 11 governorship election.

Fintiri secured the ticket after polling 624 votes to defeat his closet rival, Dr. Ahmed Modibbo, who polled 197 votes.

A former Lagos State Military Administrator, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, who polled 54 votes, came a distant third. Dr. Umar Ardo scored nine votes, while Mr. Jerry Kumdisi was left with only four valid votes.

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bamkole, who presided over the contest, said, “Twenty-four out of the total number of votes cast were invalid. I hereby declare Ahmadu Fintiri as the winner of this primary.”

In his acceptance speech, Fintiri expressed gratitude to members of the party as well as delegates for reposing confidence in him.

He appealed to other contestants to join him and work for the success of the party during the October 11 governorship bye-election.

The party primary, which was held at the Lamido Cinema Jimeta, began at about 9.45pm on Saturday night and ended at 4.13am of Sunday.

A former Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, stepped down from the race minutes before voting commenced.

He declined a request for an interview when our correspondent approached him.