The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State has concluded its primary elections ahead of the 2027 general elections, producing candidates for the governorship, National and State Houses of Assembly amid allegations of irregularities and growing calls for reconciliation within the party.
At the centre of the exercise was the governorship primary election conducted across the 147 electoral wards in the 13 local government areas of the state, where Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, representing Nasarawa West Senatorial District, emerged as the party’s governorship candidate.
Chairman of the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee, Prof. Theodore Bala Maiyaki (SAN), who announced the results in Lafia at the end of the exercise held between May 22 and 23, declared that Wadada polled 195,285 votes to defeat his closest rival, former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, who scored 39,675 votes.
Other aspirants in the contest included Prof. Muhammad Sani Haruna, who polled 5,844 votes; Dr Liman Hassan Muhammad (SAN), 863 votes; Zakka Yakubu, 396 votes; Fatima Abdullahi Adamu, 246 votes; and Tanimu Adabson, who secured 65 votes.
Prof. Maiyaki said Wadada satisfied all constitutional requirements and scored the highest number of valid votes cast during the direct primary election. He described the exercise as largely transparent and in line with the APC constitution and electoral guidelines.
The APC also concluded senatorial and House of Representatives primaries across the state. In Nasarawa North Senatorial District, Governor Abdullahi Sule secured the party’s senatorial ticket after polling 47,393 votes to defeat former Deputy Governor Silas Ali Agara, who garnered 2,915 votes.
There were quite decisive records in the remaining two senatorial districts. While the Nassarawa West senatorial district, affirmed by a consensus vote of about 98,614 in favour of Dr Faisal SDrib, Hon. Abubakar Hassan Nalarabe defeated the incumbent deputy governor Emmangovernorbe in the Nassarawa South senatorial race with 48,452 to 32,881 votes respectively.
The House of Representatives primaries produced notable upsets as two serving lawmakers lost their return bids in keenly contested elections. In Nasarawa/Toto Federal Constituency, Mohammed Al-Bashir Yerima, popularly known as Babae Rima, emerged victorious with 31,796 votes to defeat the incumbent lawmaker, Hon. Mohammed Abdulmumini Ari, who polled 9,039 votes.
For the triple K Federal Constituency of Keffi/Kokona/Karu, Hon. Daniel Oga Ogazi defeated Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Dr Danladi Jatau, after polling about 13,083 votes in the primary election.
Similarly, Tony Bala Shammah secured the APC ticket for Akwanga/Nasarawa Eggon/Wamba Federal Constituency after polling 38,333 votes to defeat incumbent member, Hon. Jeremiah Umaru, who garnered 4,061 votes.
In Lafia/Obi Federal Constituency, nephew to the former Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, Mohammed Almakur emerged through a consensus and affirmation process, polling about 45,000 votes after the withdrawal of his rival, Isaac Ali Kigbu.
Also, Hon. Yakubu Dalhatu Araf clinched the APC ticket for Awe/Doma/Keana Federal Constituency with 20,661 votes, defeating Joseph Atta, who scored 3,542 votes.
However, despite the conclusion of the primaries, discontent has continued to trail the process in parts of the state. Supporters of former IGP Adamu staged protests in Lafia shortly after the announcement of the governorship results, alleging manipulation of result sheets, non-conduct of elections in some wards and irregularities during collation.
The protesters accused some state government officials of influencing the process and called on the APC National Working Committee (NWC) to investigate the conduct of the exercise and recognise what they described as “authentic” ward results.
Some prominent stakeholders within the party, including former Governor Tanko Al-Makura, were also said to have expressed concerns over alleged interference and the need for a more transparent and member-driven process. Isolated incidents of disruption and tension were reported in a few local government areas during the exercise.
Amid the growing tension, Governor Sule has called on party members to close ranks and work for the collective success of the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
The governor, who had openly endorsed Senator Wadada before the primaries, congratulated the governorship candidate and urged aggrieved aspirants and their supporters to embrace reconciliation in the interest of the party.
He maintained that the direct primary reflected the wishes of party members across the state and appealed to dissatisfied stakeholders to pursue peaceful internal mechanisms in resolving grievances.
Wadada, in his acceptance remarks, pledged to provide inclusive leadership and promised to carry all party stakeholders along if elected governor in 2027. He also appealed for unity among APC members, stressing that the party’s victory would depend on collective commitment and reconciliation after the keenly contested primaries.
With the primaries concluded, political observers believe the ability of the APC leadership at both state and national levels to manage internal grievances and reconcile aggrieved factions may determine the party’s cohesion and electoral strength heading into the 2027 general elections in Nasarawa State.
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