National News – In Nasarawa State, Nigeria, former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu has formally entered the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship contest ahead of the May 21, 2026 primary, setting up a direct challenge to the consensus arrangement backing Senator Ahmed Wadada, the preferred successor of Governor Abdullahi Sule.
The move, confirmed in Lafia on Tuesday by his campaign director-general Musa Hussein, signals a high-stakes political contest as party members prepare for the 2027 governorship election.
Adamu says he obtained his expression of interest and nomination forms, insisting he will rely on popularity and internal democracy to win the primary.
Party insiders in Nasarawa describe the development as a widening rift within the APC, where Governor Sule’s endorsement of Wadada was expected to streamline succession but now risks triggering factional tensions.
Supporters of Adamu argue that his national security background and name recognition give him an edge among delegates, while critics within the ruling party warn that multiple power centres could weaken cohesion ahead of the 2027 polls.
The campaign team also alleged pressure on ward and local government officials to align with a preferred aspirant, describing such actions as a threat to internal democracy and party neutrality.
Hussein called on the APC national leadership to intervene, insisting that only a transparent direct primary can prevent post-election disputes and restore trust among stakeholders.
Analysts say the contest reflects a broader trend of elite resistance to consensus politics in Nigeria’s ruling party, where aspirants increasingly prefer open primaries to negotiated zoning.
Locally, residents in Nasarawa view the development with mixed feelings: some welcome the prospect of competitive democracy, while others fear that intense intra-party rivalry could distract from governance priorities.
If unresolved, the disagreement may test APC unity in a strategically important North-Central state ahead of 2027.
Weeks leading to the primary are expected to intensify lobbying within APC structures, with observers noting that outcomes in Nasarawa could influence broader North-Central power negotiations and set a precedent for how consensus disputes are resolved in the party nationwide.
