Ex-IGP emerges Nasarawa SDP gov’ship candidate
By Trek Africa Newspaper
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has declared former Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, as its governorship candidate for Nasarawa State following a replacement primary election conducted on Saturday in Lafia.
Announcing the result, Chairman of the SDP Electoral Committee for Nasarawa State, Barrister Joseph Achille, said the exercise was conducted across all 13 local government areas of the state and collated at the LGA level.
He listed the LGAs as Akwanga, Awe, Doma, Karu, Keana, Kokona, Nasarawa, Nasarawa Eggon, Lafia, Obi, Toto, and Wamba.
Achille, who was joined by the Committee Secretary, Ibrahim Ahmad, and member, Adeyemi Abimbola Esq., said a total of 28,637 delegates were present and cast their votes.
“Sitting before you today to conduct this election primary. As you are all aware, we have a sole candidate for the office of governor, SDP, Nasarawa State,” he told delegates.
He added that the committee “duly collated all the votes emanating from the various wards” and that the exercise was conducted “peacefully and lawfully.”
“Having scored the total votes peacefully and lawfully, it gives me singular privilege, by the powers conferred on me by the National Executive Committee and the National Working Committee, to declare the result that Mohammed Abubakar Adamu scored the highest lawful valid votes,” Achille said amid cheering and applause.
“Subsequently, he is declared, returned, and elected as the candidate and flag-bearer of the Social Democratic Party for Nasarawa State,” he added.
The electoral committee chairman further described the process as “free, fair, and credible” before inviting the winner to approach the podium.
The primary was held to select the SDP flag-bearer for the 2027 governorship election in Nasarawa State.
In his acceptance speech, former Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, promised to work tirelessly to “change the bad governance that is taking place” in the state.
Adamu spoke shortly after being declared winner of the party’s replacement primary held in Lafia. The event was greeted with chants of “SDP! Power!” and “Progress! SDP!” by jubilant supporters.
“I am delighted that the primaries have been conducted. I’m also delighted that we have been declared the winner,” Adamu said.
“My family and the people of Nasarawa State are delighted that this primary has been conducted, and we have been declared winners.”
He said his administration, if elected, would prioritise basic infrastructure and social services across 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 stated.
“We’ll provide healthcare that is needed not only in the urban cities, but also in the rural areas.”
The former IGP said agriculture and solid minerals would be central to his development plan.
“Nasarawa State is an agrarian state. We have vast expanses 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,” Adamu said.
He also decried the current handling of the state’s mineral resources.
“Nasarawa State is also endowed with mineral resources. The way it is being handled now, the way it is being exploited, it is not to the benefit of the people of the state. We are going to look into the way it has been handled, and make sure that the benefit comes to the people.”
Adamu pledged a campaign focused on specific commitments.
“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.”
Prior to the election, the national leadership of the SDP formally presented former Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, to Nasarawa State delegates as the party’s governorship aspirant, describing the day as “historic” for both the party and the state.
The National Chairman said Adamu does not need an introduction, having “led the Nigerian Police with utmost discipline, integrity, and commitment to the rule of law.”
“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 told the crowd.
“He has led the Nigerian Police with utmost discipline, integrity, and commitment to the rule of law, and made Nasarawa State and Nigeria proud, to the extent that he was appointed or elected the second policeman all over.”
The speech drew loud chants of “IG Governor! IG Governor! IG Governor!” from supporters.
The national leader then asked: “Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, are you ready to elect IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu as the candidate of Nasarawa State? …to elect him as the Governor of Nasarawa State?”
He urged SDP members across the state to work for total victory at all levels.
“My dear Nasarawa State SDP members, please, I want to urge you… we want nothing but SDP… SDP in Nigeria, SDP in Nasarawa State, SDP in Senate, SDP in House of Reps, SDP in State Assemblies.”
On behalf of the National Working Committee, he thanked members for their commitment and expressed confidence in the electoral process.
The process was witnessed by the SDP Presidential Candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, alongside other national leaders of the party.
