BY AHMED AKANBI
Former Inspector-General of Police, IGP Adamu Abubakar (rtd.), has vowed to fix rural roads, improve healthcare and invest massively in agriculture and mining after emerging as the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in Nasarawa State.
Adamu polled 28,637 votes at the SDP governorship primary conducted across the 13 local government areas of the state on Saturday.
Declaring the result, Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Joseph Achile, Esq., said the exercise was monitored in all wards and local government areas, and that votes were lawfully collated before his declaration as the winner. The panel also had Dr Ibrahim Ahmed and Adeyemi Abimbola as secretary and member, respectively.
Chairman of the Screening Committee, Senator Ogochukwu Uba, affirmed that Adamu was duly screened and found qualified while Chairman of the Appeal Committee, Bello Ado Useni, said no petitions were received during the three-day sitting, describing the process as compliant with the SDP constitution and Electoral Act 2026.
In his acceptance speech, the former IGP said his administration would focus on what matters most to the people.
“My government will prioritise the provision and rehabilitation of social amenities, especially roads in our rural communities. I have travelled across this state and seen neglected roads in the hinterland. That will change,” he said.
On health, Adamu promised quality and accessible healthcare not just in urban centres, but also in rural communities where facilities are currently lacking.
He identified agriculture as a major pillar, noting that Nasarawa is blessed with arable land and good climate.
“We will make massive investments in agriculture to boost food production for our people and for the country at large,” he pledged.
The SDP candidate also decried how the state’s mineral resources have failed to benefit the people, promising “aggressive measures” to ensure mining translates to jobs, revenue and development for host communities.
Adamu said his campaign would be specific and people-oriented, stressing: “We will tell the people in each ward and local government area exactly what our administration will do for them. No more vague promises.”
With the ticket secured, the SDP flag bearer said he would work with citizens, development partners in Nigeria and abroad to end what he described as “bad governance” and accelerate development in Nasarawa ahead of 2027.