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From Abel Leonard, Lafia
A fresh political tension has emerged within the Nasarawa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress as former governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura openly aligned with the governorship ambition of former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, signalling a widening rift over the party’s preferred mode of candidate selection ahead of the 2027 elections.
The development, coming under the growing debate between consensus arrangement and direct primaries, is being interpreted as a declaration of battle lines between key power blocs within the ruling party in the state.
The latest signals emerged during a consultative visit by Adamu’s campaign team to the palace of the Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage (retd.), where Al-Makura publicly declared support for the former police chief.
What was initially presented as a routine engagement with traditional rulers quickly turned into a political statement, as the former governor praised Adamu’s leadership credentials and insisted that the APC’s adoption of direct primaries represents the true will of the people.
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According to Al-Makura, the decision by the party leadership and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to adopt direct primaries has effectively removed room for imposed candidates, insisting that only the people should determine the party’s flagbearer.
The remarks have since sparked considerable political interpretation within party circles, with some stakeholders viewing them as a subtle rejection of consensus efforts reportedly being considered by influential actors in the state.
Sources within the APC suggest that the Nasarawa governorship race is gradually shaping into a contest between two dominant tendencies: one favouring consensus-building to avoid internal fragmentation, and another pushing for competitive primaries to test popularity at the grassroots.
Al-Makura’s alignment with Adamu is seen as a significant boost to the former IGP’s ambition, given the ex-governor’s enduring influence across party structures and traditional networks in the state.
With Al-Makura’s endorsement of Adamu now public and counter-positions expected from other influential stakeholders, observers warn that the party may be heading into one of its most competitive and politically sensitive primaries in recent years, raising questions about whether direct primaries will deepen cohesion or further expose cracks within its leadership ranks in the state.
