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From Abel Leonard, Lafia
Nasarawa State Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Ibrahim Likita Ajegena, yesterday, took control of the party’s state secretariat in Lafia, dismissing the leadership dispute rocking the party as the handiwork of aggrieved members.
Ajegena declared that the SDP remained united and “battle-ready” to capture Nasarawa State in the 2027 general election, barely two days after former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, emerged as its governorship candidate.
Against the backdrop of the internal wrangling, Ajegena said the party had operated from its zonal offices but had now decided to reclaim its official secretariat along Jos Road, Lafia.
“There is no crisis in the SDP. There are only some aggrieved members who feel that they could not do anything but to become spoilers.
“We have been operating through our zonal offices in the state, but today, we have decided to take back our office located along Jos Road, opposite the Catholic Church,” he said.
Ajegena said the return to the secretariat marked a fresh phase in the party’s preparations for the election and urged members to put their differences behind them.
His assumption of control came after Saturday’s substitution primary at which Adamu emerged governorship candidate following the withdrawal of the party’s earlier candidate, Musa Adamu Angba.
The primary was conducted across the state’s 13 local government areas, with the SDP Electoral Committee putting the number of participating delegates at 28,637.
Adamu, the sole candidate, was subsequently declared the party’s standard-bearer after securing the highest number of valid votes.
Ajegena said the turnout during the exercise demonstrated growing support for the SDP and provided an indication of its prospects in the election.
“What we witnessed on Saturday is a sign of victory. The crowd was massive and it showed that the people are with us.
“We are battle-ready for 2027. The SDP is prepared to take Nasarawa State, and we are also prepared to take the presidency,” he declared.
The chairman said the party would build on the momentum from the primary to strengthen its structures and mobilise voters across the 13 local government areas.
He maintained that the SDP would no longer allow internal disagreements to distract it from its electoral objective.
Ajegena urged aggrieved members to explore the party’s internal dispute-resolution mechanisms rather than engage in actions capable of weakening its structure.
He also expressed confidence in Adamu’s capacity to lead the SDP into the governorship election, saying the former police chief’s emergence had strengthened the party’s chances of challenging the ruling party and other political forces in Nasarawa.
Adamu had, after his emergence, thanked the party for what he described as a successful primary and promised to work towards improving the state if elected governor.
Ajegena said the immediate task before the party was grassroots mobilisation and reconciliation ahead of the election.
“Our focus is 2027. We are ready, we are organised and we are battle-ready,” he said.
