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Former National
Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Audu Ogbeh, will head
the Presidential campaign of Nuhu Ribadu, former Chairman of the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), NEXT has learnt.

A close aide of Mr.
Ribadu who confirmed this stated that the choice of Mr. Ogbeh is
“because of his demonstrated integrity, vision for Nigeria and ability
to garner broad support for the candidacy of Mr. Ribadu.” Mr. Ogbeh
joined the Action Congress in 2006 alongside former Vice President,
Atiku Abubakar. Seen as one of the political leaders in Northern
Nigeria, Mr. Ogbeh left the PDP following his fallout with former
president, Olusegun Obasanjo.

He was ousted as
PDP Chairman in January 2005 following his public criticism of the
former President over the latter’s handling of the Anambra saga between
the then Governor Chris Ngige, and his estranged ‘godfather’ Chris Uba.
Mr Ogbeh, who was Chairman of the PDP from 2001 to 2005, had condemned
Mr. Obasanjo for not calling Mr. Uba to order and stopping the carnage
and destruction that went on in Anambra state during the crisis.

He was a member of
the nine-man committee of the Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF)
which chose Mr. Abubakar as consensus Northern aspirant for the PDP,
though he reportedly voted for the Kwara State Governor, Bukola Saraki.

Ribadu to Kick start Campaign

Indications also
emerged that Mr. Ribadu, who has chosen “A New Nigeria is Possible” as
his campaign slogan, will commence his full campaign on December 15
when he is expected to hold a formal declaration.

Mr. Ribadu will
challenge two other aspirants for the ticket of the Action Congress of
Nigeria. They are Usman Bugaje, the national Secretary of the party,
and Attahiru Bafarawa, the former governor of Sokoto State.

Should the ongoing
discussions between the ACN and the Congress for Progressive Change
(CPC) also come to fruition, Muhammadu Buhari, former military ruler and sole Presidential aspirant of the CPC will also be a contender for the ticket.

Bisi Akande, the
outgoing national Chairman of the ACN had earlier confirmed the ongoing
negotiations between both parties. While the ACN wants an outright
merger of both parties to create a stronger party, the CPC wants an
alliance that will see both parties present a single presidential
candidate.

Chido Onumah, the director of communication of the Ribadu Campaign Organisation confirmed to NEXT that Mr. Ogbeh would head Mr.

Ribadu’s campaign
while stating that other political parties and prominent personalities
had also declared support for the aspirant.

“Our campaign is
targeted at the average Nigerian, the man and woman on the street. That
is why we are accepted not just by the traditional politicians, but by
the millions of apolitical Nigerians. However, our ongoing
widespread consultations led to the choice Chief Ogbeh who has shown
himself as a man of courage who stands by the truth, as the Chairman of
our campaign organisation,” Mr. Onumah stated.