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The presidential ambition of Nuhu
Ribadu on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria is not going
to be easily achieved considering growing intra-party opposition, NEXT
has learnt.

There are also indications that
some northern leaders, disillusioned by the primacy of President
Goodluck Jonathan in the PDP, are seeking alternative platforms. It has
always been held in some quarters that the major beneficiary from any
fall-outs in the PDP will be the Action Congress of Nigerian and Mr.
Ribadu – who has been the recipient of several solicitations.

The National Secretary of the ACN,
Usman Bugaje, has however declared his intention to resign his position
as the party’s secretary in order to challenge Mr Ribadu for the
presidential ticket. Mr Bugaje may not be the only challenger to the
former EFCC boss’s ambition to become ACN’s candidate.

Part of the new movement, NEXT
learnt, is fuelled by the emerging sign that some former stalwarts of
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will soon defect to ACN.

On the list of those said to be
planning to defect are Ifeanyi Ararume, a senator representing Imo
North; Abiye Sekibo, a former minister of transportation and secretary
to the Rivers State government; Achike Udenwa, former governor of Imo
State; Adamu Aliero, a former FCT Minister and Buka Abba Ibrahim, a
former governor of Yobe State and currently a senator.

The news is already troubling some
ACN stalwarts, who see the incoming members not only as PDP leaders,
but as cronies of former President Ibrahim Babangida. There are fears
among this section of the party that the new entrants will take the
advantage of the ongoing membership registration in the party to
register their supporters also, thereby, establishing a structure
strong enough to either bring Mr. Babangida into the party or
destabilise any plan of the party to challenge the PDP.

Efforts to speak with either Mr
Bugaje or Mr Ribadu on their candidacy did not succeed. But a source
close to Mr Ribadu’s camp said he was not surprised by the planned
defection because ACN is the only viable alternative for politicians
leaving the PDP who still wanted to remain politically relevant.

“We will rather see the move as their effort to remain politically relevant and not as a threat to Ribadu,” the source said.

No formal approach

Lai Mohammed, the party’s
national publicity secretary, however said there has not been a “formal
approach” by any intending members notifying the national leadership of
the party of their interest in the party.

“I have heard about the rumour
also,” he said, “but there has not been any formal approach.” Mr.
Mohammed explained that an intending member can either approach the
national leadership of the party, notifying the leadership of his
interest, or approach the state leadership.

“I can confirm to you that there
is no such thing at the national leadership, but I cannot say if they
[intending members] are talking to the leadership of the ACN in their
respective states,” he said.

Only Senator Ibrahim, out of the
five, replied to text messages sent by NEXT. He said the news is not
true. However, NEXT learnt that Mr. Sekibo has long concluded plans to
formally join the party before the end of this month.

“He is already on his way to formally join us,” said Mmuen Kpagane,
the former chairman of the party in Rivers State. “He has told the PDP
he is no longer their member and has informed his ACN Ward leaders and
by tomorrow, he will be picking up his membership card in Okrika.” The
state chairmen of ACN in Imo, Yobe and Kebbi all denied the reports.
However, a source close to the national leadership of ACN said some of
the negotiation were done at the national level and some state chairmen
may not know yet or “pretend not to know because they want to be
contacted directly by the intending member.”