Nasarawa: Shugaba-Abdullahi emerges NDC governorship candidate

By Edwin Phillip, Lafia

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), in Nasarawa State, has unveiled Musa Shugaba-Abdulahi as its gubernatorial candidate in the 2027 general elections in the state during its Substitution Primary Election, which took place Tuesday night in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

Overseeing the election, which was an affirmation, the chairman of the electoral committee, Dr Peter Onigah, who is also the National Treasurer of NDC, said that the exercise was in line with the Electoral Act and was supervised by the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Dr Peter Onigah, NDC National Treasurer who served as Electoral Committee Chairman, said the exercise was in line with the Electoral Act and was supervised by the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Speaking shortly after his emergence, the governorship candidate, Shugaba-Abdullahi, said his administration would run on a 5-point agenda, which focused on education, health, infrastructure, empowerment and security.

He promised free and compulsory education from age 3 to 19 if elected.

“We want to reduce illiteracy to the barest minimum. One of the reasons for insecurity and other social vices is because a good number of our youth are illiterate,” he said.

He added that for ages 19 to 25, the government would subsidise tuition for the National Certificate in Education (NCE), Ordinary National Diploma (OND), vocational and some medical courses, while parents cover feeding.

He promised to prioritise the health sector and make Nasarawa State become Nigeria’s medical hub so as to stop medical tourism to India, Dubai, the United Kingdom and other countries.

On infrastructure, he said development would be community-specific; he noted that his government would roll out infrastructural development based on need assessment and not white elephant projects.

According to him, despite the limited powers the sub-national government has when it comes to security, his government will partner with the federal government to reduce insecurity and criminality to the barest minimum.

Speaking earlier, the State Chairman of NDC, Hon. Dogo Shammah, who was a placeholder for the govership position, said the substitution primary election became necessary after some constituencies had no aspirants during the May 2026 primaries, leading to the use of placeholders.

Shammah said NDC intends not only to participate but to win elections in 2027.

He called on party executives, zonal officers, LGAs and ward leaders to mobilise for the task ahead.

“This occasion marks the beginning of fruitful engagement in our dear state to wrestle power in order to save our people from the shackles of underdevelopment under the ruling party in Nigeria and Nasarawa State in particular,” he said.

He also thanked the party’s national leader of the party, Sen. Seriake Dickson, and the National Working Committee for their support, which led to the success of the exercise.

“I therefore call on members of the State Working Committee, the zonal officers, local government chairmen, wards and unit leaders, and our able national and State House of Assembly candidates to team up for the greater task ahead of us,” he added.

The exercise also produced five candidates for the State House of Assembly seats.

The affirmed Assembly candidates are as follows: Kokona West, Iliya Emmanuel Ayas; Keffi East, Lucy Kigbu-Anzaku.

Keffi West, Mohammed Ramalan; Obi 1 Constituency, Micha Mamman; and Toto/Gadabuke, Hussaini Mustapha-Ganuwa.

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