Acting Governor of Adamawa State,Ahmadu Umar Fintiri, will no longer take part in the election process to determine who becomes the governor of the state at an election slated for October 11, after a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) screening committee led by former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu yesterday disqualified him from participating in the party’s governorship primary slated for next Saturday.
Mantu told newsmen after an 8-hour screening process that his Committee premised its decision to disqualify Fintiri on the Nigerian Constitution which forbids him from participating in the contest, because he was expected by his position as the Acting Governor to midwife the process that would lead to the emergence of a new governor and not being a participant.
Mantu further declared that Section 119, subsection 2 of the Nigeria Constitution expects the acting governor to be in office for a maximum of 90 days, supervise the conduct of the election, and not to be a participant.
Section 191 (1) of the Constitution reads:
“The Deputy Governor of a State shall hold the office of Governor of the State, if the office of Governor becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, impeachment, permanent incapacity or removal of the governor from office for any other reason in accordance with section 188 or 189 of this constitution.
“(2) Where any vacancy occurs in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (1) of this section during a period when the office of Deputy Governor of the State is also vacant, the Speaker of the House of Assembly of the State shall hold the office of Governor of the State for a period of not more than three months, during which there shall be an election of a new Governor of the State who shall hold office for the unexpired term of office of the last holder of the office.
“(3) Where the office of the Deputy Governor becomes vacant –
(a) by reason of death, resignation, impeachment, permanent incapacity or removal in accordance with section 188 or 189 of this Constitution.”
Among the 13 candidates cleared were Mohammed Moddibo, Nuhu Ribadu Mohammed Buba Marwa, Jerry Kumdisi, Andrawus Sawa, Aliyu Kama, Ardo Umar, Abubakar Girei, Awwal Tukur, Ahmed Gulak, Idi Hong, among others.
Fintiri was the Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly that impeached the erstwhile governor, Murtala Nyako.