The political battle ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Nasarawa State has taken a fresh turn, as the campaign organisation of former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar Adamu (retd) has fired back at the State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Aliyu Bello, over his comments on the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidates.
This was contained in a press statement signed by the Director of Media and Strategic Communications of the Adamu Campaign Organisation, Otaru Douglas, and made available to journalists on Sunday. The statement accused the APC chairman of applying “double standards” in his criticism of the SDP’s decision to field candidates from Lafia, insisting that the ruling party should first address concerns over its own internal political processes.
Douglas said Bello’s comments amounted to an attempt to shift attention from issues surrounding the APC’s candidate selection and zoning arrangements in Nasarawa South.
The exchange followed comments attributed to Bello at a gathering of the “Agatu United for Wadada” support group, where he reportedly expressed concern over the SDP fielding both its governorship and senatorial candidates from Lafia.
“Dr Aliyu Bello should face the issues within his party and allow the SDP to conduct its affairs,” Douglas said.
He maintained that the emergence of Adamu on the SDP platform was an internal decision of the party and should not be presented as a matter for the APC leadership to dictate.
“The retired IGP and his new party, the SDP, are fully abreast of the political dynamics of Nasarawa State,” he said.
According to Douglas, Adamu’s movement to the SDP followed political disagreements within the APC, adding that the former police chief had now found a platform through which to pursue his political ambition.
The campaign organisation also challenged the APC leadership over its handling of zoning and the distribution of elective positions in Nasarawa South.
Douglas argued that political representation should take into account the interests and aspirations of the various local government areas in the senatorial district, rather than concentrating opportunities in particular areas.
He specifically referenced the emergence of Senator Aliyu Wadada as the APC’s candidate, saying the party should be prepared to explain its decision to party members and the electorate.
He said other local government areas, including Karu, Toto and Nasarawa, also had qualified politicians who could aspire to represent the district.
“The APC should first address the concerns surrounding its own choice of candidate and allow the electorate to make their decision,” he said.
Douglas further alleged that the APC’s previous primary processes had generated dissatisfaction among some aspirants and party members.
He cited the controversy surrounding the APC senatorial primary in Nasarawa South and the reported expectations of some aspirants, including the incumbent deputy governor, Dr Emmanuel Akabe.
According to him, the controversy surrounding the exercise remained an issue that the APC should address internally rather than directing its attention towards the SDP.
However, he did not provide independent evidence to substantiate his claims about the conduct of the primary, which remain allegations by the Adamu campaign organisation.
The SDP campaign also rejected suggestions that its decision to field candidates from Lafia represented a threat to any political party.
Douglas said political parties were free to choose candidates based on their internal processes, while voters would ultimately determine the strength of those candidates at the polls.
“The people have the right to assess the candidates and the parties and make their decision at the polls,” he said.
He further claimed that Adamu had continued to attract support across different parts of the state, including communities in Agatu and other local government areas.
The campaign organisation said the former IGP would rely on direct engagement with voters and grassroots mobilisation as the election approaches.
Douglas also urged the APC leadership to focus on strengthening its internal structures and resolving disagreements among its members.
He said the SDP was not interested in being distracted by comments from rival political parties, but was focused on presenting its candidates and programmes to the people.
“The SDP will continue to engage the people and allow them to decide the direction they want for Nasarawa State,” he said.
The Sun reports that the latest development is expected to further intensify political activities in the state, particularly in Nasarawa South, where the emergence of candidates and the question of zoning have become major issues ahead of the 2027 elections.
