Aisha's brother seeks to use Buhari's influence to get the APC's Adamawa State governorship ticket

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari's brother-in-law Dr Mahmood Halilu has declared that he plans to run for the governorship of his native Adamawa State sparking a political internal feud within the local All Progressives Congress (APC).

Dr Halilu, the younger brother of Hadjia Aisha Buhari, the president's wife, has already launched his campaign and intimidating electronic billboards announcing his campaign have flooded the state capital Yola. However, the declaration sets on a collision course with the Adamawa State chapter of the APC which is backing incumbent Governor Jibrilla Bindow, who wants to run for a second term.

Popularly known locally as Modi, Dr Halilu, who was confered with an honourary doctorate degree in business adminsitration by Cresent University, Abeokuta is from Adamawa North Senatorial District and it is believed he is relying on powerful forces in Abuja to clinch the ticket. However, if he is imposed on the party, there are fears that Governor Bindow may then defect to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), taking along many local members with him.

Other candidates said to also be interested in the APC's governorship ticket apart from Dr Halilu and Governor Bindow include former gubernatorial candidate Marcus Gundiri, former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission chairman Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and Senator Ahmad Abubakar Mo’Allahyidi. According to local sources, all attempts to convince Dr Halilu to shelve his governorship ambition has so far failed.

One local source said: “APC in Adamawa has a big challenge at hand as there is tension ahead of our primaries. We do not want Governor Bindow to defect to the PDP but Mahmoud Halilu, who is a younger brother to the first lady is insisting on seeking the governorship ticket.

“He has all his posters in Yola. A graduate of Business Administration from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, he has no known political pedigree except that he belongs to the first family and carries that about.

So far, it is not yet known if President Buhari will intervene in the matter or if his wife is backing her brother's bid. Local party members do not rate Dr Halilu, who they accuse of using his family connections to further his personal agenda.

“He is not known in any political cycle in Adamawa. He had attempted to previously contest for a seat in the House of Representatives on the platform of   the defunct Congress for Progressive Change only to chicken out.

“Under the current dispensation, he toyed with the idea of intimidating the party and Governor Bindow by pressurising them to assure him of a ticket to contest for Senate but he failed to actualize it. We are suspecting that he is challenging the incumbent governor for refusing to do his bidding,” the source added.

There are now genuine fears within the Adamawa State chapter of the PDP that Governor Bindow might defect to the PDP and cost them the election. Party members are apprehensive that should Governor Bindow stand as a PDP candidate, it could spell the end of the APC in the state.

“Although the governor has control of the party’s structure, he might be helpless if there is an order from above because the court has ruled that the party has the final say on any ticket. Our greatest fear is the likelihood of losing Bindow to PDP or any other party if he is denied APC re-election slot,” the APC source added.