The governor of Adamwa State, Bala Ngilari, has protested to the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, what he termed his exclusion from contesting the 2015 gubernatorial primaries through a zoning arrangement.

He gave the national chairman of the party 24 hours to reverse the zoning of the governorship contest under the party’s platform to Adamawa Central Senatorial District or risk facing legal action.

In a letter addressed to the PDP national chairman dated November 17, Ngilari, through his lawyer, Festus Keyamo,  stated that he was not party to the  arrangement arrived at by some party stakeholders from the State who agreed that the governorship slot be zoned to Adamawa Central Senatorial District.

Referring to a statement from the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party which  zoned the governorship contest to Adamawa Central Senatorial District, Keyamo asserted that it was an attempt to scheme NgIlari out of the race since he hails from Adamawa North Senatorial District.

Quoting Section 1(1), (2) and (3) and Section 42 (1) (a) & (b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), governor’s counsel contended that the position of the NWC and the plan to scheme Ngglari out of the gubernatorial race is “illegal, unconstitutional, null and void” and against the spirit and letters of the Constitution.

Keyamo recalled that on the day of President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration to contest the presidency in 2015, he promised all PDP  governors automatic tickets or the right of first refusal.