Fresh dimensions of the political crisis in Adamawa State politics emerged on Monday as tension enveloped the state capital over rumours that Governor Bala James Ngilari may be removed from office today following a pending court case instituted by the state House of Assembly against him.

Ngilari was declared as the governor of the state by an Abuja Federal High Court last year, after his purported resignation from office as the deputy governor in the wake of the impeachment of Governor Murtala Nyako, who was his principal.

He had argued in court that his resignation was illegal and prayed the court to return him as the substantive governor of the state of which his request was granted by the court and was sworn in as governor of the state.

The Abuja High Court had ordered that the Speaker of the state assembly, Alhaji Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, who spearheaded the removal of Nyako from office and was sworn in as acting governor of the state should vacate office for Ngilari.

Fintiri and the state assembly had instituted a court case appealing against the earlier judgment of the Federal High Court which ordered the removal of the former acting governor (Fintiri) and the declaration of Ngilari as the substantive governor of the state.

The case was adjourned to February 17 (today). It was on this premises that  some stakeholders who spoke to THISDAY alleged that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may use the pending court case to remove Ngilari from office, following the allegations levelled against the governor of anti-party activities.

They alleged that the governor was seen of late, romancing with an opposition party in the state, drifting from the earlier agreement reached with him to support Mallam Nuhu Ribadu or be removed from office.

However, other stakeholders who pleaded anonymity said the PDP has not been fair to the governor, adding that having denied him the governorship ticket under its platform, it is also threatening him with impeachment  if he does not support the PDP in the coming general election.

They said at present, the governor is presently in a political dilemma, following the fact that he was not allowed to run for the governorship ticket of the state and his purported candidature in the Adamawa Northern senatorial zone is under contention between him  and the former Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Goodluck Jonathan, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak.

They said Nggilari was neither here or there following his political predicament, except if PDP wins the coming presidential election and compensate Gulak with a political appointment or else the governor is wasting his time and resources, alleging that he will win the election and Gulak will use the court to claim his mandate.
Guluk, at a press briefing in Yola,however maintained that he remained the PDP substantive senatorial candidate of the Adamawa North district having contested and won the party primaries.

He noted that he took part in the party primaries that was conducted in Abuja and defeated six other aspirants to win the contest, with 84 votes, noting that with that development, he remained the candidate of the party.

“Seven of us contested for the seat and I emerged victorious in Abuja,” he said.

However, the PDP submitted the name of the state governor to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as its candidate of the senatorial district for the election.

Gulak explained that “a candidate can only be substituted if he or she dies or willingly resign  through writing, and l am still alive, neither did l resign from the contest.”

The former adviser maintained that the substitution of Nggilari remained null and void, having fulfilled all the requirements of the primary contest which made the party to submit his name to INEC when he emerged the winner of the contest.

“I am the authentic candidate for the senatorial district having contested and won the primaries with 84 votes.

“The substitution of my name with that of Ngilari remains null and void and the result of the primary has been documented for anyone to see,” he noted.

Also reacting to the issue, the Director of Public Affairs to the state governor, Mr. Pineas Elisha, dismissed Gulak’s claims, noting that his principal is the substantive candidate for the district as the party duly endorsed and submitted his name to INEC.
Elisha noted that at present, it is the name of the governor that was approved and passed on to INEC and he was duly given the certificate of return.

“As far as PDP is concerned, Ngilari is the candidate for the northern senatorial district,” he said.

He said he expected that Gulak with his status should have been in the full knowledge of the guidelines regarding the nominations of
candidates to INEC, adding that the party’s constitution and the electoral laws are clear about the process to nominate a candidate to INEC