2027: Faction of APC in Southern Nasarawa Calls for Deputy Governor Position

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Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress in the Nasarawa South Senatorial District of Nasarawa State have called for the party’s deputy governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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The stakeholders argued that since the party’s governorship candidate, Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, emerged from the Nasarawa West Senatorial District, the deputy governorship candidate should come from the Southern Senatorial District to strengthen the APC’s chances of winning the 2027 governorship election.

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The position was contained in a communiqué signed by the convener, Ayuba Umbugadu, and made available to journalists shortly after the Nasarawa South APC Critical Stakeholders’ Meeting held on Saturday in Lafia, the state capital.

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According to the communiqué, the meeting was convened to deliberate on issues affecting the APC’s electoral fortunes and political future ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

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Umbugadu said the stakeholders reviewed the state’s political landscape and emphasised the need for inclusiveness, competence, grassroots acceptance, loyalty to the party and electoral viability in the selection of the deputy governorship candidate.

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He said the stakeholders acknowledged the growing popularity and acceptance of Senator Wadada as the APC’s governorship candidate and a leading contender in the forthcoming election.

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They also commended Governor Abdullahi Sule for what they described as his purposeful leadership, commitment to infrastructural development, promotion of peace and dedication to the unity and progress of Nasarawa State.

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The stakeholders also endorsed a former member of the House of Representatives for the Lafia/Obi Federal Constituency, Dr Joseph Haruna Kigbu, as their preferred candidate for the APC deputy governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 election.

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The communiqué stated that, following extensive deliberations, the stakeholders unanimously resolved that Kigbu remained the most qualified, acceptable and strategically positioned person to serve as Senator Wadada’s running mate.

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It read in part, “That APC critical stakeholders and party loyalists from Nasarawa South Senatorial District unanimously endorse Hon. Dr Joseph Haruna Kigbu as their sole and preferred choice for the position of deputy governorship candidate.

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“That while respecting the aspirations and democratic rights of other interested contenders, this meeting firmly believes that no other aspirant presently commands the level of grassroots acceptance, statewide goodwill, political experience, and cross-ethnic and religious appeal enjoyed by Dr Joseph Haruna Kigbu.

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“That a Wadada-Kigbu ticket represents the strongest political combination capable of delivering overwhelming victory for the APC in the 2027 governorship election and significantly strengthening the party’s chances in other elective positions across the state.

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“That this meeting firmly believes that the emergence of Hon. Dr Joseph Haruna Kigbu as running mate to Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada will not only strengthen the party’s chances of winning the governorship election but also lay a solid foundation for sustained electoral success in the state.”

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Umbugadu said the stakeholders noted that several sons and daughters of Nasarawa State, particularly from the Southern and Northern senatorial districts, had indicated interest in the deputy governorship position and were consulting stakeholders in pursuit of the ticket.

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He said that after carefully assessing all the aspirants, the stakeholders unanimously concluded that Kigbu, popularly known as Likitan Talakawa, remained the most acceptable, experienced, widely embraced and strategically positioned for the position.

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The communiqué further stated, “That we respectfully call on His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi Sule, Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, the State Chairman of the APC, members of the State Executive Committee, and all relevant stakeholders involved in the party’s decision-making process to consider the overwhelming preference of the people and endorse Dr Joseph Haruna Kigbu as the APC deputy governorship candidate.

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“That this endorsement represents the collective and unanimous position of APC critical stakeholders and party loyalists drawn from various communities and ethnic nationalities across Nasarawa North, Nasarawa South and Nasarawa West Senatorial Districts.”

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Earlier, one of the APC stakeholders in the zone and the current Deputy Chairman of Lafia Local Government Council, Ahmed Uba-Arikya, commended Governor Sule for ensuring what he described as a transparent process that produced the party’s governorship candidate.

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Uba-Arikya said the governor’s developmental strides cut across all five local government areas in the Southern Senatorial District—Lafia, Doma, Keana, Obi and Awe.

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He reaffirmed the commitment of the stakeholders and party members to the principles of progress and accountability that, according to him, have characterised the current administration in the state.

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