The stages are set for what could turn out to be the most eventful political contest in Nasarawa state. The ongoing battles for senatorial tickets in the three senatorial districts of the state can best be described as battles of the titans.
The emergence of Senator Abdullahi Adamu, the first civilian Governor of Nasarawa State, as the APC National Chairman has change the political direction of the state ahead of the party’s primaries scheduled to take place in May 2022.
Though, the political gladiators in the state are not about to leave the duo of Adamu and or Governor Abdullahi Sule to decide the political direction of the State, especially as regards who get the party’s tickets, many pundits are of the opinion that the two APC chieftains will have a lot to do in the process that will determine where the pendulum swings.
Nasarawa State had in the last twelve years been the home of the APC with the party having an unfettered hold on nearly all the political offices in the state.
In Nasarawa West Senatorial district where the new APC national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu just vacated the seat, the battle is the fiercest. Three powerful gladiators are angling to pick the party’s ticket to replaced Adamu.
They include Barrister Labaran Magaji, a legal luminary, Hon Aliyu Ahmed Wadada, a former member of the house of Representatives as well as Barrister Mohammed Hassan Abdullahi, the newly elevated minister of Enviroment who was before now the minister of state, Science and Technology.
Nasarawa West compromises of Toto, Nasarawa, Keffi, Kokona and Karu LGAs. Barr. Magaji hails from Toto LG, while Wadada is from Keffi LG and the minister is from Karu LG.
History has it that both Nasarawa, Keffi/Kokona have produce Senators for the zone in the past. Senator Walid Jibrin and Abubakar Sodangi from Nasarawa LG had represented the Senatorial district in the past while Senator Abdullahi Adamu who hails from Keffi/Kokona just vacated the seat after almost 12 years on the seat, leaving Karu and Toto LGAs without a feel of the coveted Senate seat.
However, it is now being rumoured that following his elevation as substantic Minister, Barr. Mohammed may not contest the senatorial election again. Especially with the new requirement that stipulates he resigns his position before the primary election.
The new national chairman who just vacated his Senate seat had repeatedly told who cares to listen that he does not know who will take over his senate seat but knows who will not inherit his seat. Party sources claim he is apparently referring to Hon Wadada who had in the past challenge him (Adamu) in several public functions that he will succeed him in 2023 whether he (Adamu) likes it or not.
Little did Wadada know that Adamu will emerge the national chairman of the party and will supervise the senatorial primaries nationwide.
With Adamu at the helms of affairs of the party, it is clear that Wadada will not find it easy to pick the party’s ticket, though Wadada had in the past boasted of his electoral prowess after he in 2003 and 2007 trounced his opponents in the house of Reps contest.
Our correspondent gathered that some prominent members of the political camp of the new APC national chairman, who before now, showed preference for Barr Magaji, are putting pressure on the incumbent member of the House of Representatives, representing Keffi, Kokona, Karu Federal Constituency, Hon. Jonathan Gbefi Gaza, to abandon his 3rd term bid to the green chamber and pick the Senate seat. His sudden change of mind on Barr Magaji
The new interest in Hon. Gaza, The Nation learnt, may not be unconnected to Magaji’s support for Senator Tanko Al-Makura during the APC national chairmanship contest.
At the movement, it is not clear if Hon. Gaza will accept the request on him to contest the Senate seat. But what appears to be clear is that Hon. Wadada will not get Adamu’s support to inherit his seat.
In Nasarawa North, the incumbent Senator, Godiya Akwashiki, has indicated interest to return back to the Senate on the APC platform. Incidentally, Governor Abdullahi Sule hails from the zone.
The Senatorial district which is largely dominated by Christians comprises of 3 LGAs, Nasarawa Eggon, Akwanga and Wamba.
Senator Akwashiki who is a close ally of former Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, is gearing up to tackle the ex – Executive Secretary of the National Judicial Commission (NJC) Barr. Danladi Evunlanza, who is an ally of Governor Sule.
Senator Akwashiki who is regarded as the best performing Senator in the history of the State by many pundits, has touched many lives through numerous empowerment efforts and had constructed rural roads among several other achievements. He is also credited with facilitating several employment opportunities for the people of the state. He has the firm support of many groups and individuals across the senatorial districts.
He has identified communities that lacked potable water, where he sunk boreholes; he has unwittingly warmed himself into the hearts of his people.
Facts on ground have it that in any free, fair and credible primaries, Akwashiki will be far ahead of Evunlanza, and any attempt to deny him a return ticket will spell doom for the party in the zone.
The contest in Nasarawa South Senatorial district is no less ferocious with former Governor Umaru Al-Makura likely to slug it out with a former Commissioner of Justice in the state, Barrister Musa Hussaini.
Barrister Hussaini, an accomplished business man, is joining the race on the alleged directive of his principal, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.
Al-Makura, who was a major contender to the APC national chairmanship position is the incumbent Senator for the zone and may likely seek a second term.
Though Governor Sule had repeatedly told APC stakeholders across the state that he has no anointed candidate for any position in the state, and insisted that that the popular candidate should emerge in a free, fair and credible primaries, observers of the politics of the state are envisaging a power tussle among the three leading chieftains of the ruling party in Nasarawa state namely Governor Sule, former governor AlMakura and former governor Adamu, the APC national chairman.
PDP
Last weekGovernor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, who is the leader of the PDP in the North Central Zone, charged the leadership of the party in Nasarawa State to unite and take drastic steps to ensure that the party wins political offices in the state. The PDP in Nasarawa state has been weakened by internal crisis for many years. Many of its chieftains have dumped the party for the ruling APC in anger.
Ortom made the statement during a meeting with some key stakeholders of the party from Nasarawa State to find solutions to the leadership crises that had plagued the party in the state. On strategies to winning elections in the state, Governor Ortom appealed to the party leaders to be united n the interest of the party by building consensus as an easy way to entrench confidence among its members.
The Chairman, Board of Trustee, BOT, of PDP, Walid Jibril, while assuring the party of his support, emphasised that the unity of the party should be the concern of stakeholders of the party in the state, pointing out that “we should do away with all forms of sentiments and go for the best candidates.” Another leader of the party in Nasarawa, Senator Solomon Ewuga appealed to members of the party to put the interest of the party above every other interest alleging that the APC in the state was plotting to disrupt the progress that the PDP had made so far in the state.
A former Minister of Information and Communication, Labaran Maku who also addressed the gathering indicated that he was rejoining the PDP. Maku had years back, left the PDP for the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). He assured Governor Ortom of his support to ensure that Nasarawa State was returned to the PDP. “I have come with a clean heart to work together with stakeholders of the party for the victory of the party in Nasarawa State,” he stated.
But in spite of the peace move, supporters of the party across the state are still hoping to see more of its chieftains join the senatorial races. For now, the most prominent PDP senatorial aspirant is Alhaji Umar Musa Galadima, a seasoned Estate Surveyor and Valuer (ESV), who is contesting in the Senatorial race of Nasarawa West district.
Recently, a group of friends purchased the expression of interest and nomination forms of the PDP for him to contest in the primary election. The friends, led by Hon. Uba Marmara, presented the forms to Galadima in Keffi. Marmara who expressed confidence on the frontline Aspirant to deliver the much needed dividends of democracy if elected stated that the 2023 election would be a walkover for the mainstream opposition if he’s field as candidate. He added that Galadima possesses the qualifications, experience, and maturity required to deliver excellently in office if elected.
Speaking after the receiving the forms, Galadima who commended the group of friends for the gesture assured of a responsive representation that would address the myriad of challenges bedeviling the district. He vowed to prioritize the provision of basic amenities, youths and women empowerment and security of lives and property among others if elected to represent the district at the Nigerian Senate in 2023. Observers of the politics of the state tip Galadima to put up a good show in the general election if given the ticket.
With PDP extending the sale of its nomination forms, it is expected that more PDP chieftains will join the senatorial races across the state.
