BY: HON. ISA NATHANIEL, JP
CHAIRMAN, COUNTER AND MOBILIZATION TEAM, RTD IGP ADAMU 2027 MOVEMENT.
Our attention has been drawn to a world press conference addressed on Monday by Dr. Aliyu Bello, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nasarawa State, wherein he announced a purported “endorsement” of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, a “vote of confidence” on Governor Abdullahi Sule, and the “adoption” of Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada as the party’s “preferred governorship aspirant” for 2027.
We have carefully studied that statement in detail. It is our considered view that what was presented to the public is a constitutional aberration, a political fraud, and a dangerous attempt to drag the name, office, and democratic reputation of Mr. President into a localised political arrangement aimed at undermining internal democracy within the All Progressives Congress in Nasarawa State.
We therefore issue this rebuttal not out of personal interest, but to defend the supremacy of the APC Constitution, protect the democratic legacy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and liberate the 147 Ward Executives of Nasarawa State from political manipulation, coercion, and institutional pressure being disguised as party consensus.
The Constitution of the All Progressives Congress is very clear and unambiguous on the processes for the emergence of candidates. These processes are strictly limited to direct primaries or consensus. At no point does the APC Constitution confer on a State Chairman, a State Working Committee, or any individual the authority to unilaterally adopt, impose, or coronate an aspirant as a “preferred candidate” on behalf of the Party. The so-called adoption of Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada therefore lacks constitutional backing, is ultra vires, and is of no legal or political effect within the APC framework.
We further state that the claim that ward, local government, and state party structures collectively adopted a single aspirant is misleading and not reflective of the true position of the Party membership. Credible reports and internal feedback indicate that Ward Executives were summoned to Lafia under circumstances that raise serious concerns about voluntariness and political pressure. A process conducted under such conditions cannot, in any democratic setting, be described as adoption, consensus, or collective decision-making. It is, at best, a managed political arrangement designed to produce a predetermined outcome.
It is also very important to place on record that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, as the leader of the APC and a longstanding democrat, has consistently demonstrated commitment to internal party democracy, transparency in candidate selection, and respect for constitutional order. Throughout his political leadership, he has advocated for credible primaries and resisted the politics of imposition. It is therefore both inappropriate and politically unethical to attempt to use his name, image, or office to legitimise any form of imposition or pre-arranged endorsement in Nasarawa State. For the avoidance of doubt, Mr. President has not endorsed any governorship aspirant in Nasarawa State, and any suggestion to the contrary is false, misleading, and should be disregarded in its entirety.
Democracy, by its very nature, cannot thrive in an atmosphere of intimidation, fear, or coercion. Information available to us suggests that some Ward Executives and party stakeholders were subjected to subtle pressure, including threats of political exclusion or administrative consequences, in order to ensure attendance and compliance at the Lafia event. Any “vote of confidence” or endorsement obtained under such circumstances is fundamentally defective, morally questionable, and politically invalid. It does not represent free expression of party members, but rather a controlled outcome orchestrated to create a false impression of unity.
We also find it necessary to emphasize that, as of this moment, the All Progressives Congress in Nasarawa State has not conducted its governorship primary election. By all constitutional and electoral standards, all aspirants remain equal stakeholders within the Party. Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, like every other aspirant, remains in the contest and has not been formally or constitutionally declared as the Party’s candidate. Any reference to a “preferred governorship aspirant” is therefore personal opinion and political positioning, not an official party decision.
It must also be clearly understood that the APC is a mass political organization owned collectively by its members across wards, local governments, and states. It is not a private structure controlled by any individual, group, or political interest. The attempt to create a perception of predetermined succession or automatic endorsement ahead of a primary election undermines the spirit of internal democracy and risks alienating the broader membership base that forms the strength of the Party in Nasarawa State.
We also strongly reject the mischaracterization of what was described as “routine party meetings.” In standard party practice, routine meetings are meant for consultation, coordination, and internal deliberations, not for the announcement of adopted candidates or the staging of political processions to Government House. The sequence of events in Lafia, culminating in public declarations and press conferences, clearly suggests a pre-arranged political script rather than a neutral party engagement. Such conduct is inconsistent with democratic norms and party guidelines.
This statement also serves as a formal and urgent notice to all party officials at the state, local government, and ward levels that the APC belongs to all members and not to any individual or factional interest. All officials occupy their positions in trust for the collective interest of the Party. They are not permitted, under any circumstances, to act as campaign agents or promoters of any aspirant prior to the conduct of official primaries.
We further state that any party official who participates in premature endorsement, adoption, or campaigning for any aspirant before the official primary election is in clear violation of Article 21 of the APC Constitution. Such actions constitute misconduct and shall attract disciplinary measures, including suspension or removal from office, following due process as provided by the Party’s constitution.
Neutrality is not optional; it is a constitutional obligation. It is also the only guarantee of fairness and legitimacy in the internal electoral process. Any departure from neutrality undermines the credibility of the Party and weakens public confidence in its democratic structures. All officials are therefore strongly advised to remain neutral, professional, and committed to due process.
We hereby place the National Working Committee of the APC, as well as relevant national leadership structures, on formal notice that the declaration made in Lafia on 27th April, 2027 is unconstitutional, procedurally defective, and capable of generating unnecessary internal crisis if not urgently addressed. We call on the National Working Committee to immediately review the development, nullify any purported adoption, and reaffirm the supremacy of Article 20 of the APC Constitution.
We also call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant security agencies to take note that the procession and public declarations made in Lafia do not constitute part of any official party primary process. Rather, they appear to be politically engineered activities aimed at influencing perception ahead of the constitutionally scheduled primary election.
We reaffirm, without any ambiguity, that the only legitimate and binding process for the emergence of the APC governorship candidate in Nasarawa State is the primary election scheduled for 21st May, 2026. That process remains sacrosanct, legally binding, and must be allowed to proceed without interference, imposition, or manipulation.
Finally, we call on all genuine members of the APC across Nasarawa State to remain calm, law-abiding, and focused. Members are encouraged not to be distracted by political theatrics, staged endorsements, or orchestrated declarations. Instead, they should remain vigilant, secure their party membership credentials, and prepare to participate actively in the forthcoming primary election, which remains the true platform for expressing the will of the people.
Nasarawa State is not a conquered territory. The All Progressives Congress is not a private estate or inherited property. The 147 Ward Executives are not political subjects to be mobilized under pressure for staged endorsements. And the democratic will of party members cannot be replaced by political choreography or pre-arranged declarations.
The Lafia declaration is hereby rejected in its entirety. The Constitution of the Party will prevail. The primary election will hold. And the people of Nasarawa State will decide.
