Ahead of the May 21, 2026 governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State, a former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has dismissed moves to adopt a consensus candidate, insisting on participating fully in the contest.
Adamu’s position comes amid reports that Ahmed Wadada, who represents Nasarawa West Senatorial District, is being positioned as the preferred successor to Governor Abdullahi Sule ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists secretariat in Lafia, the Director-General of the Mohammed Adamu 2027 Political Movement, Musa Hussein, said his principal had already obtained both the expression of interest and nomination forms for the race.
Hussein stated that Adamu remains confident of victory, stressing that the campaign is focused on winning both the APC primary and the eventual governorship election.
“We are not considering consensus. We are in this race to win,” he said. “The former IGP is ready for a free, fair, and credible primary, and we are confident of emerging victorious.”
He criticised what he described as attempts to impose a candidate, arguing that such actions violate the APC constitution and threaten internal party democracy. According to him, the party’s guidelines only recognise direct primaries or consensus reached through due process—not unilateral endorsements.
Hussein further alleged that some ward executives and party officials were subjected to pressure, raising concerns about the credibility of the process. He warned that outcomes produced under such circumstances would lack legitimacy.
The campaign also dismissed claims of any national endorsement for a governorship aspirant in the state, describing such assertions as misleading. It raised concerns over alleged intimidation of public office holders, including local government officials and councillors, to support a particular aspirant.
“A governorship primary is a democratic contest, not a coronation,” Hussein said. “Every aspirant deserves a level playing field.”
He called on the APC national leadership to intervene, review the situation, and ensure strict adherence to due process, emphasising that the May 21 primary must remain transparent and free from interference.
Margaret ABAH
