SDP replaces Nasarawa governorship candidate

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

Mr Adamu emerged as the replacement primary winner held in Lafia, the state capital, on Saturday, after Mr Angbazo withdrew from the race.

The development comes days after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) listed Mr Angbazo as the SDP candidate, creating uncertainty over the party’s choice of standard-bearer.

The replacement primary was conducted across the state’s 13 local government areas, with ward results collated by the party’s electoral committee.

Joseph Achille, chairman of the SDP electoral committee for the state, said 28,637 delegates participated in the exercise.

Mr Adamu was the sole candidate in the primary and was declared the winner after the votes were collated.

“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 said.

He subsequently declared Mr Adamu the SDP’s governorship candidate and flag bearer for the 2027 election.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Adamu thanked the delegates for their confidence and pledged to provide what he described as an alternative to the current administration in the state.

The former police chief said his administration, if elected, would prioritise infrastructure and social services, particularly in rural communities.

He said his decision to contest was influenced by his assessment of the condition of roads and other infrastructure during visits to different parts of the state.

“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 identified healthcare and agriculture as areas requiring greater attention, stressing the need to extend government services beyond the state capital and other urban centres.

He further raised concerns about the management of Nasarawa’s mineral resources, saying the state’s residents should benefit more from its natural wealth.

READ ALSO; Ex-IGP disagrees as INEC lists Angbazo as Nasarawa SDP governorship candidate

On his campaign strategy, Mr Adamu said he would present specific programmes for each local government rather than rely on broad political 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 served as Inspector-General of Police from 2019 to 2021, is from Lafia, the state capital.

His emergence gives the SDP a high-profile candidate as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 governorship election in the state.

The party will now be expected to complete the necessary documentation and substitution process with INEC to formalise Mr Adamu’s candidacy.