SDP names new candidate for Nasarawa governorship

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has picked former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to replace Musa Angbazo as its candidate for the 2027 governorship election in Nasarawa State.

Mr Adamu became the choice after a replacement primary held in Lafia, the state capital, on Saturday. This change happened after Mr Angbazo stepped down from the race.

This news follows days after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) included Mr Angbazo as the SDP candidate. This created some confusion about who the party would choose as its candidate.

The replacement primary included all 13 local government areas in the state. The party's electoral committee gathered results from the wards.

Joseph Achille, the chairman of the SDP electoral committee for Nasarawa, said 28,637 delegates took part in the primary.

Mr Adamu was the only candidate in the primary and was declared the winner after counting the votes.

"Having scored the total votes peacefully and lawfully, it gives me the singular privilege, by the powers conferred on me by the National Executive Committee and the National Working Committee, to declare the result that Mohammed Adamu scored the highest lawful, valid votes," Mr Achille stated.

He then announced Mr Adamu as the SDP’s governorship candidate and flag bearer for the 2027 election.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Adamu thanked the delegates for their trust. He promised to provide what he called an alternative to the current government in the state.

The former police chief said if he wins, his government would focus on infrastructure and social services, especially in rural areas.

He mentioned that his decision to run was based on what he saw while visiting different parts of the state, particularly the state of the roads and infrastructure.

"We will not neglect social amenities that are required. We’ve gone round the state; we have seen all the roads that are in the hinterlands are neglected. We’ll make sure that we take care of those," he said.

Mr Adamu also highlighted healthcare and agriculture as important areas needing more attention. He believes government services should reach beyond the state capital and urban areas.

He also expressed worries about how Nasarawa’s mineral resources are managed. He stressed that the people of the state should gain more from its natural wealth.

Regarding his campaign approach, Mr Adamu said he would present clear programs for each local government area instead of general promises.

"During the campaign, we are going to be specific in all that we will do, and telling our people what we are going to do word-by-word, local government-by-local government," he said.

Mr Adamu, who was Inspector-General of Police from 2019 to 2021, hails from Lafia, the state capital.

With his emergence, the SDP now has a well-known candidate as political parties ramp up preparations for the 2027 governorship election in the state.

The party is expected to finish the necessary paperwork and substitution process with INEC to confirm Mr Adamu’s candidacy.