BY Henry Umoru & Yola Umar Yusuf
YOLA—Ahead of Monday’s People’s Democratic Party, PDP, gubernational primaries for the 2012 election in Adamawa State, the state chapter of the party, has endorsed the candidature of Governor Murtala Nyako for the election.

Chairman of the party, Alhaji Mijinyawa Kugama who made this known in Yola, however pointed out that the adoption of the candidature of Governor Murtala Nyako does not in anyway prevent other aspirants from the primaries.

The adoption of Nyako is coming on the heels of a promise by the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar that he would campaign for the governor during the election.

Atiku’s media office in a statement said, ‘’following persistent media enquiries, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has confirmed that he would enthusiastically work for the re-election campaign bid of Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State in the forthcoming gubernatorial election, slated for January next year.”

“Our common interest to transform the PDP and re-mould it according to the ideals and objective for which it was formed in 1998 transcends personals interests.

‘’Until now, the former Vice President has not uttered any word personally about Adamawa politics. His new found alliance with Governor Nyako is believed to be a major boost for the Adamawa State PDP chapter, which has been torn apart by divided loyalties to different actors.”

However, Kugama said, “Primary election is purely the internal affair of the party under the PDP’s constitution, and we in the PDP in Adamawa state have unanimously endorsed Governor Nyako for the January 14, 2012

governorship election” Kugama stated.

He spoke at the party’s secretariat when Governor Nyako presented to the party his intent form to contest the  next governorship primaries.

Kugama however, asked other governorship aspirants not to be discouraged stressing that the primary elections which is to be determined by delegates could still be in anybody’s favour as the election would be conducted by neutral umpires from the national secretarait of the party.

Kugama maintained that the party’s decision to endorse the candidature of Governor Nyako was based on his track record of achievements in accordance with PDP guidelines that accommodates two terms of four years each for its elected officers that excelled during their first term.

Earlier, the Director- General Nyako/Ngillari 2012 Campaign Organization, Mr. Felix Tangwami advised   those who were interested in the governorship election to show interest to make the contest more interesting.

Tangwami decried the campaign of calumny and use of abusive words by other political parties in their campaign and called on the leadership of such parties to call their members to order.

Responding, Governor Nyako thanked the PDP in the state for the confidence reposed in him by the endorsement, promising that he will not let the party down if re-elected.