SDP Replaces Angbazo With Ex-IGP Adamu in Nasarawa

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.

Key Highlights

• SDP replaces Musa Angbazo with former IGP Mohammed Adamu.
• Adamu emerged as the sole candidate at the replacement primary in Lafia.
• The primary was conducted across Nasarawa State’s 13 local government areas.
• SDP electoral committee chairman Joseph Achille said 28,637 delegates participated.
• Adamu pledges to prioritise infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture and social services.
• Former police chief raises concerns over neglected rural roads and mineral resources.
• His emergence follows an earlier listing of Angbazo by INEC as the SDP candidate.
• The party is expected to complete the formal substitution process with INEC.

Adamu emerged as the replacement candidate at a fresh SDP primary held in Lafia, the state capital, on Saturday, following Angbazo’s withdrawal from the race. The development comes days after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) listed Angbazo as the SDP governorship 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 results from the wards collated by the party’s electoral committee. The chairman of the SDP electoral committee for Nasarawa State, Joseph Achille, said 28,637 delegates participated in the exercise. 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,” Achille said.

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

Mohammed Adamu Pledges Alternative Leadership

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

Adamu also identified healthcare and agriculture as areas requiring greater attention, stressing the need to extend government services beyond Lafia and other urban centres.

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Ex-IGP Raises Concerns Over Nasarawa Mineral Resources

The former Inspector-General of Police further raised concerns about the management of Nasarawa’s mineral resources. He argued that residents of the state should derive greater benefits from its natural resources and indicated that resource management would form part of his governance priorities if elected.

Adamu Promises Local Government-Specific Programmes

On his campaign strategy, Adamu said he would present specific programmes for each local government area 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.

Adamu served as Inspector-General of Police from 2019 to 2021 and is from Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital. His emergence gives the SDP a high-profile candidate as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 governorship election in Nasarawa State.

The party is expected to complete the necessary documentation and substitution process with the Independent National Electoral Commission to formalise Adamu’s candidacy. For more political updates as the 2027 race develops, follow us on X.