Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, has emerged as the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the 2027 general election in Nasarawa State.

Adamu replaces Musa Adamu Angba, who had earlier withdrawn from the race.

The former police chief emerged through a direct primary conducted by affirmation via voice vote on Saturday, under the monitoring of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in accordance with the Electoral Act and the commission’s guidelines.

Speaking shortly after his emergence, Adamu said his consultations across the state had exposed the lack of basic social amenities, roads and healthcare facilities in many communities.

He said his administration, if elected, would prioritise the provision of social amenities and infrastructure across both urban and rural areas.

“We will not neglect social amenities that are required. We’ve gone round the state; we have seen all the roads that are in the hinterlands are neglected. We’ll make sure that we take care of that.

“We’ll provide healthcare that is needed not only in the urban cities but also in the rural areas,” he said.

Adamu described Nasarawa as an agrarian state with vast expanses of land suitable for agriculture, promising to invest in the sector to boost food production for the people of the state and the country at large.

On the state's mineral resources, he said the current manner of exploitation had not benefited the people sufficiently.

“On mineral resources, the way it is being handled now, the way it is being exploited, is not to the benefit of the people of the state.

“We are going to look into the way it has been handled and make sure that the benefit comes to the people,” he said.

The SDP candidate also promised to run an issue-based campaign that would address the specific needs of residents across the wards and local government areas of the state.

“During the campaign, we are going to be specific; we shall be specific in all that we will do and tell our people what we are going to do word-by-word, local government-by-local government,” he said.

Expressing delight over his emergence, Adamu thanked the party and the people of Nasarawa State for their confidence in him, promising to work tirelessly to improve the state.

“We are going to work tirelessly to change the bad governance that is taking place in Nasarawa State for the better, Insha’Allah.

“We will not allow the government to fall into the hands of another bad person. We will work with all the people of Nasarawa State and our supporting partners and development partners all over the country and the world to bring development to Nasarawa State,” he said.

Also speaking, the SDP presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, described Adamu as a candidate who needed no introduction to the people of Nasarawa State, having led the Nigeria Police Force with discipline, integrity and commitment to the rule of law.

Adebayo urged residents of the state to vote for SDP candidates at all levels, saying the party had the capacity to provide responsible leadership and rescue the country from what he described as “monsters and criminal elements.”

He also expressed confidence in INEC's ability to conduct a free, fair and credible election, citing the recent governorship election in Osun State as evidence of the commission's neutrality.

“I want to assure you today that we have an INEC that is responsible and responsive to their responsibility. I want to assure you, if you are ready to exercise your franchise and elect candidates of our party, today you have an INEC that will declare your candidate.

“The onus is on you to exercise your franchise, to exercise your will to elect your leaders. It has happened in Osun; it will happen in Nasarawa State,” he added.

Reacting to Adamu’s emergence, the Director of Media and Strategic Communications for the IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu (Rtd.) Campaign Organisation, High Chief Otaru Douglas, said the affirmation had finally put to rest speculations that the former IGP would not appear on the ballot.

Douglas said the development showed that the people of Nasarawa State were determined to change the governance narrative of the state.

“The people have shown uncommon resilience and commitment to changing the governance narrative of our dear state. They have rejected politics of intimidation and inducement and have chosen competence, experience, integrity and proven leadership.”

He added, “To the good people of Nasarawa State, this is just the beginning. IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu (Rtd.) represents security, order, inclusion and purposeful governance. The journey to rescue and rebuild Nasarawa State has officially begun.”