Nasarawa 2027: Group warns against using Tinubu’s name to impose candidates
The Chairman of the Counter and Mobilisation Team of the Rtd IGP Adamu 2027 Movement, Hon. Isa Nathaniel, has alleged that a top official of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
The Chairman of the Counter and Mobilisation Team of the Rtd IGP Adamu 2027 Movement, Hon. Isa Nathaniel, has alleged that a top official of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State is using President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s name to mislead members of the public.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Nathaniel criticised claims by the Nasarawa State APC Chairman, Dr. Aliyu Bello, who, during a press conference in Lafia on Monday, announced what he described as Tinubu’s endorsement of a vote of confidence in Governor Abdullahi Sule and the adoption of Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada as the party’s preferred governorship aspirant for 2027.
Nathaniel described the claims as spurious and unconstitutional, warning that they amount to political manipulation and an attempt to associate the President with a local political arrangement that undermines internal party democracy.
“We issue this rebuttal not out of personal interest, but to defend the supremacy of the APC Constitution, protect President Tinubu’s democratic legacy, and shield party structures in Nasarawa State from manipulation disguised as consensus,” the statement said.
He emphasised that the APC Constitution provides clear guidelines for the emergence of candidates, limiting the process to direct primaries or consensus arrangements duly agreed upon by stakeholders. He argued that no individual or party organ has the authority to unilaterally impose or designate a preferred candidate.
According to him, the purported adoption of Senator Wadada lacks constitutional validity and carries no legal or political weight.
Nathaniel also disputed claims that party structures at ward, local government, and state levels endorsed a single aspirant, alleging that ward executives were convened under questionable circumstances that cast doubt on the credibility of the process.
“A process conducted under such conditions cannot be described as consensus. It reflects a managed political arrangement aimed at producing a predetermined outcome,” he said.
He further maintained that President Tinubu has consistently upheld internal democracy within the APC and has not endorsed any governorship aspirant in Nasarawa State.
“It is inappropriate and politically unethical to use the President’s name to legitimise any form of imposition. For the avoidance of doubt, Mr President has not endorsed any governorship aspirant in Nasarawa, and any claim suggesting otherwise is false and should be disregarded,” Nathaniel stated.
According to Nathaniel, some ward executives and stakeholders were subjected to “subtle pressure, including threats of political exclusion or administrative consequences,” to ensure attendance at the Lafia event. “Any ‘vote of confidence’ or endorsement obtained under such circumstances is defective, morally questionable, and politically invalid.”
He emphasised that the APC in Nasarawa has not conducted its governorship primary. “By all constitutional and electoral standards, all aspirants remain equal stakeholders. Senator Wadada, like every other aspirant, remains in the contest and has not been formally or constitutionally declared as the party’s candidate. Any reference to a ‘preferred governorship aspirant’ is personal opinion, not an official party decision.”
“The APC is a mass political organisation owned collectively by its members. It is not a private structure controlled by any individual or group. The attempt to create a perception of predetermined succession undermines internal democracy and risks alienating the broader membership,” he added.
Nathaniel also faulted the description of the Lafia gathering as “routine party meetings,” saying such meetings are for consultation, not for announcing adopted candidates or staging processions to Government House. “The sequence of events clearly suggests a pre-arranged political script rather than neutral party engagement.”
He served notice to all party officials at the state, LGA, and ward levels that the APC belongs to all members. “Officials occupy their positions in trust for the collective interest. They are not permitted to act as campaign agents for any aspirant before the official primaries. Any official who participates in premature endorsement or adoption violates Article 21 of the APC Constitution and shall attract disciplinary measures, including suspension or removal.”
“Neutrality is not optional; it is a constitutional obligation and the only guarantee of fairness,” he said.
Nathaniel called on the APC National Working Committee to review the Lafia declaration, nullify any purported adoption, and reaffirm the supremacy of Article 20 of the party’s Constitution.
He also urged INEC and security agencies to note that the Lafia procession and declarations “do not constitute part of any official party primary process” but appear to be “politically engineered activities aimed at influencing perception” ahead of the scheduled primary.
“The only legitimate and binding process for the emergence of the APC governorship candidate in Nasarawa State is the primary election scheduled for May 21, 2026. That process remains sacrosanct and must proceed without interference or manipulation,” he said.
He urged party members across Nasarawa to remain calm, law-abiding, and focused. “Do not be distracted by political theatrics or staged endorsements. Secure your membership credentials and prepare to participate actively in the forthcoming primary, which remains the true platform for expressing the will of the people.”
“Nasarawa State is not a conquered territory. The APC is not a private estate. The 147 ward executives are not political subjects to be mobilised under pressure for staged endorsements. The democratic will of party members cannot be replaced by political choreography,” Nathaniel said.
“The Lafia declaration is hereby rejected in its entirety. The Constitution of the Party will prevail. The primary election will be held. And the people of Nasarawa State will decide.”
