The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has picked the former Inspector General of Police, IGP (Rtd) Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, as its candidate for the Nasarawa State governorship election.
Adamu emerged as the party’s flag-bearer during a substitution primary held on Saturday in Lafia, the state capital, following the withdrawal of the party’s previous candidate, Musa Adamu Angba.
Presenting the official election results in Lafia, the Electoral Committee Chairman, Barrister Joseph Achile confirmed that the primary election took place across all the Council Wards and subsequently collated at the local government headquarters.
”We conducted the Primary Election across all the wards in Nasarawa State and were subsequently collated at the Local Government Area Councils of the State,” Achile stated while presenting the report in Lafia on Saturday.
”In each of the local governments, namely Akwanga, Awe, Doma, Karu, Keana, Kokona, Nasarawa, Nasarawa Eggon, Lafia, Obi, Toto, and Wamba respectively. A total number of 28,637 delegates were present and they duly casted their votes.
” Having scored their total votes peacefully and lawfully, it is my singular privilege and by the powers conferred on me, to declare the result that, Alhaji Lafia Muhammadu Abubakar Aliyu scored the highest lawful valid votes,” he said.
Achile added: “Subsequently, he is declared, returned, and elected as the candidate and flag-bearer of the Social Democratic Party for Nasarawa State.”
Speaking at the event, the SDP National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe, described the nomination as a milestone for both the party and the State.
”Today is a historic day for the SDP, and indeed for Nasarawa State. That one of your best, IGP Abubakar Adamu is today being presented to contest the candidature of the Social Democratic Party to transform Nasarawa State under the SDP platform. He has led the Nigerian Police with utmost discipline, integrity, and commitment to the rule of law, and made Nasarawa State and Nigeria proud,” Prof. Gombe said.
Addressing the crowd of delegates who intermittently cheered with shouts of “IG Governor!”, Prof. Gombe urged party members to deliver a full SDP mandate in the upcoming polls.
”SDP in Nigeria, SDP in Nasarawa State, SDP in Senate, SDP in House of Reps, SDP in State Assemblies. With this, it’s your leeway, we can be able to give them what it takes to be able to discharge their responsibility as leaders at various levels, to rescue our nation from monsters and criminal elements,” he said.
Gombe also rallied support for the party’s presidential flag-bearer, Prince Adewole Adebayo, and the Senatorial candidate, Hon. Sarki Dahiru, expressing optimism in the electoral process: “Today you have an INEC that will declare your candidate. The onus is on you to exercise your franchise, to exercise your will to elect your leaders. It has happened in Osun, it will happen in Nasarawa State!”
Delivering his acceptance speech immediately after his declaration, IGP (Rtd) Mohammed Abubakar Adamu expressed gratitude to the delegates and outlined his administration’s priorities.
”I am delighted that the primaries have been conducted. I’m also delighted that we have been declared the winner.
“We are going to work tirelessly to change the bad governance that is taking place in Nasarawa State for the better, Insha’Allah. We will not allow the government to fall into the hands of another bad person,” Adamu stated.
Adamu highlighted infrastructure decay in rural areas as a key focus, promising targeted interventions in road construction and healthcare delivery.
”We will not neglect social amenities that are required. We have gone round the State, we have seen that all the roads in the hinterlands are neglected. We shall make sure that we take care of those. We shall provide healthcare that is needed not only in the urban cities, but also in the rural areas.”
Turning to economic revival, the former police chief emphasised agricultural modernisation and mineral resource management.
”Nasarawa State is an agrarian State. We have vast expanse of land that is conducive for agriculture. We shall invest so much in it so as to feed our families, to feed the people of the State, and also the country at large,” he said.
He promised a detailed, policy-focused campaign across every community.
