Ten executive committee members of the opposition All Progressives Congress in Adamawa State have defected to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.

The group said they defected in order to render support to the PDP governorship candidate, Nuhu Ribadu.

The defection was announced Tuesday at the Adamawa PDP Secretariat by Padio Phineas, the publicity secretary of the APC.

Among the defectors are Publicity Secretary, Mr. Padio; State Youth Leader, Usman Mohammed Danyaro; Assistant Secretary, ‎Maiyani Yunis; State woman leader, Hauwa Agwu; ‎Financial Secretary, Papka Medugu; Auditor‎, Musa Hero; Zonal women leader (South), Mercy Abraham; and Zonal Youth Leader (central), Abdu James.

In his speech at the defection ceremony, Mr. Padio, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said, “Upon careful review of all the issues and problems, as well as personalities on offer aiming for the top job, we come to the selfless conclusion that no better person is right to take Adamawa back on track than the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“Unfortunately, for months and weeks, we have been saddled with the responsibility of marketing candidates that we frankly cannot vouch for their capacity and competence especially in comparable with the candidates PDP parades in the State.

“Honestly speaking, many of us here today had wanted to have Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as the candidate of our party, the APC, for the Adamawa governorship while he was still with us. But by act of providence he left the party before could achieve our good intention. However, to quote Shakespeare, “a rose by whatever name it is called will remain sweet”. ‎

“We believe wherever he goes Nuhu Ribadu would remain Nuhu Ribadu.

“In conclusion, I want to inform you and through you the good people of Adamawa State that we that are here today, and our teeming supporters across the state, have decided to resign our membership of the APC and join the PDP with the intention of joining the team that has the capacity and intention of transforming our state.

“We believe the real change Adamawa needs today – the change from incompetence and cronyism to competent and selfless leadership is well represented by the PDP. Our decision is in the interest of Adamawa State. It is borne out of the patriotic flair to uplift our dear state and transform the lives of our people.”

Eight candidates are jostling for the Adamawa top job. They are Mohammed Bindow of the All Progressives Congress [APC], Nuhu Ribadu of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP], Ahmad Modibbo of the Peoples Democratic Movement [PDM], and Marcus Gundiri of the Social Democratic Party [SDP].

The others are Amos Sunday of the Peoples Party of Nigeria [PPN], Na’ama Bulama of the Progressives Peoples Alliance [PPA], Abdulnasir Hamman of the Mega Progressives Peoples Party [MPPP], and Muhammad Malgwi of the National Conscience Party [NCP].

Mr. Ribadu is however considered the leading contender for the position although Messrs Bindow of APC, Modibbo of PDM and Gundiri of SDP are expected to give him a run for his money.