Why ACN Picked Ribadu as Presidential Candidate.

Byline: Olasunkanmi Akoni and Monsur Olowoopejo

Few hours after President Goodluck Jonathan clinched the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP presidential ticket in Abuja for the April polls, former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu in Lagos last Friday, emerged as the consensus presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.

At an elaborate but brief special convention of the party, held at Onikan Stadium, Lagos, Ribadu was adopted as the consensus candidate of the party after former governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa and a business man, Alhaji Saidu Malami willingly withdrew from the contest.

The programme which was slated to commence at about 10 am did not start till about noon for obvious reason, that is, the plan for adoption of Ribadu.

One of the indicators that there might not be election for the day was the absence of election materials such as ballot boxes, tables and even designated officials. The stadium was initially scanty but at about 10 am accredited delegates began to file in one after the other.

However, as chieftains led by Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Segun Osoba; the four ACN Governors, Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, SAN; Comrade Adams Oshiomole, of Edo State, Dr Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Engr. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State made their way into the reserved area, the environment was filled with loud ovation.

In his welcome address, National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande charged the youths to take their destiny in their hands as the Peoples Democratic Party, -led government …