By Barnabas Manyam (In Yola, Adamawa State)
The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) are said to be on the trail of the embattled immediate-past Governor of Adamawa State, Senator Muhammad Umaru Jibrilla Bindow, as he finally dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to dependable sources, Bindow narrowly escaped arrest as the EFCC team swooped on his house in Yola but missed him because he had gone to register for PDP at his Kolere ward in Mubi North Local Government Area of Adamawa state, his place of residence, even though he is from Maiha LGA of the State.
Sources said former Governor Bindow dumped the APC over the intractable crisis rocking the state chapter of the party which led to his defeat by Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani during the APC party primaries.
Bindow is a product of Admiral Murtala Nyako who allegedly foisted him on the people of Adamawa by the former Chief of Naval Staff, but as soon as Bindow became Governor, he quarrelled with his benefactor which was said have led to his defeat in his second term bid as governor. Nyako allegedly pulled him down.
He was elected as Governor of Adamawa State under the platform of APC between 2015 to 2019 when he was defeated by governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019 general elections.
The attempt by the former Governor to get the Gubernatorial ticket of the party in 2022 met a brick wall as he and four others were defeated by a female candidate in the contest, Sen. Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani.
Observers opined that Senator Bindow has since tendered his resignation letter to his Kolere ward which finally sealed his exit from the party. It was learnt that Bindow has been nursing serious grievances against the party over the alleged shabby treatment being meted to him despite being a senator and immediate past governor of Adamawa State.
His grievances reportedly climaxed when he was defeated at the Gubernatorial primaries of the party and since then, he launched a subterranean strategy culminating in a rapprochement with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
In a letter to the chairman of APC Kolere ward, Mubi North local government of Adamawa State, Bindow finally announced his departure from the party. He said the painful decision was taken after deep prayers and wide consultations with family members, stakeholders, followers and associates within and outside Adamawa state.
Bindow stated that the unfortunate event of the 2019 general election and the 2022 Governorship primaries among many reasons led to his final exit from the APC. He said lack of genuine reconciliation with aggrieved stakeholders within the party in Adamawa state since the last primaries made him to take the "painful but necessary decision".
“While thanking you and the party, I wish to also inform you that my faithful supporters will be joining me across the state in leaving the party so as to champion a cause of building a harmonious Adamawa state that will enshrine unity in our diversity toward a collective development as a people", Bindow said. The former Governor after registering for the PDP was silent as he did not speak to the media.
It will be recalled that his romance with the PDP in recent times started when Atiku Abubakar along with Governor Ahmadu Fintiri visited his house. It has also been an open secret to the point of the direction and destination of the former helmsman of Adamawa.
Already a political support group loyal to the ex-Governor under the aegis of Bindow Support Group (BSG) has since defected to the PDP and has launched serious campaign for the success of Atiku and Fintiri ahead of the 2023 general election. NNL.
