The Mobilisation Team backing Mohammed Adamu, a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress in Nasarawa State, has raised alarm over an alleged plan to coerce ward executives into endorsing a preferred candidate ahead of the party’s primaries.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Governor Abdullahi Sule recently named Ahmed Wadada as his preferred successor for the 2027 governorship race. The allegation was disclosed by Mr. Isa Nathaniel, chairman of the mobilisation team, in a statement issued on Monday in Lafia.
Nathaniel described the situation as a serious threat to internal party democracy, claiming that certain stakeholders were mounting pressure on ward executives across all 147 wards in the state to support the governor’s preferred aspirant. He argued that such actions run contrary to an earlier agreement among APC stakeholders to adopt direct primaries for all elective positions.
He emphasized that the adoption of direct primaries was intended to guarantee transparency through a “one member, one vote” process and to prevent the imposition of candidates. “It is a betrayal of that agreement to now attempt to influence or compel ward executives to endorse any aspirant,” he said.
Nathaniel further alleged that the move contravenes provisions of the APC constitution, which outlines procedures for the democratic selection of candidates. He stressed that ward executives, as grassroots representatives of party members, should not be subjected to intimidation or undue interference.
Warning of possible consequences, he noted that imposing candidates through coercion could spark internal crises and weaken the party’s prospects in future elections. He called on the APC’s national leadership to step in and ensure strict adherence to due process in conducting the primaries.
“We demand urgent intervention from the National Working Committee of the party to halt this unfolding illegality and restore constitutional order,” he said.
Nathaniel also appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to closely monitor the situation to prevent any breakdown of law and order. He urged party members to remain calm and participate peacefully in the primary election scheduled for May 21.
Reaffirming the group’s stance, Nathaniel insisted that candidates must emerge through a credible and transparent process, reflecting the will of party members.
Meanwhile, the state APC chairman, Aliyu Bello, assured party faithful of a free, fair, and credible primary process. Speaking to journalists in Lafia, he reiterated the party’s commitment to conducting direct primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
