Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
The Nasarawa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has named Emmanuel Michael Ombugadu as the party’s deputy governorship candidate for the 2027 general election, ending months of speculation and internal jostling over who would run alongside Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada. Governor Abdullahi Sule announced the decision on Monday, September 14, 2026, after a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Governor’s Lodge in Abuja. The announcement followed consultations among aspirants who had expressed interest in the position, all of whom pledged to support whoever emerged from the selection process. Governor Sule said the party could not afford to approach the 2027 contest divided and urged members to remain united. “We had a couple of people eminently qualified, and every one of them made a decision similar to what we did with the gubernatorial election, that whoever is selected among them, they would all rally and support that person,” the governor said. “So at the end of the decision, it was agreed that Honourable Emmanuel Ombugadu will be our deputy gubernatorial candidate of the party.”
The emergence of Ombugadu as the running mate is the product of a long and carefully managed political process. Senator Wadada secured the APC governorship ticket in May 2026 through a direct primary, polling 195,285 votes across the 147 electoral wards in the state’s 13 local government areas. He defeated six other aspirants, including former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu, who came second with 39,675 votes, and Professor Mohamed Sani-Haruna, who scored 5,844 votes. Wadada’s victory followed Governor Sule’s public endorsement of him as his preferred successor in April 2026, a move that shaped the trajectory of the race. The primary itself was preceded by disagreements over the selection method, with some party members favouring consensus while others insisted on direct primaries. In the end, the party proceeded with the direct primary, and Wadada emerged as the candidate. His endorsement by Vice President Kashim Shettima further solidified his position as the party’s flag bearer.
The deputy governorship slot had been the subject of intense lobbying and zoning debates. Stakeholders from the Nasarawa South Senatorial District had argued that since the governorship candidate emerged from Nasarawa West, the deputy slot should be zoned to the south. The Concerned Migili Academic Group had also appealed to Governor Sule and the APC to consider Sonny Agassi Makama for the position, citing his qualifications and the need for equitable representation. In the end, the party settled on Ombugadu, a decision that Wadada said reflected the will of the party leadership and took into account zoning considerations. “I feel happy, I feel committed, and of course fulfilled to have him as my deputy gubernatorial candidate, because it is the decision of the party and the leadership,” Wadada said. He appealed to other aspirants who had sought the position to accept the outcome in the interest of party unity, particularly singling out Dr Kigbu, who many had expected to get the slot. “I call on all others too, particularly my brother Dr Kigbu, who everybody thought would get it, to accept this as the will of God. Together we shall weather the storm,” he said.
Ombugadu brings a profile that the party believes will strengthen its ticket. According to Wadada, Ombugadu has more than three decades of experience in administration, public finance and community service. He began his professional career at Ashaka Cement Plc before joining Isa Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic, Lafia, and later the Nasarawa State Pension Bureau, where he rose to become Director of Finance and Accounts. Wadada described his running mate’s career as one characterised by diligence, accountability and responsible management of public resources. He also portrayed Ombugadu as a grassroots politician whose political career has been defined by resilience, loyalty and commitment to the people of Nasarawa State. “Beyond the positions he has held, I value the man: his humility, his loyalty, his understanding of our people, and his commitment to service,” Wadada said. He added that the ticket was designed to reflect the diversity of Nasarawa State and address the aspirations of residents across the state’s 13 local government areas, 18 development areas and 147 wards.
In his acceptance remarks, Ombugadu expressed gratitude to Governor Sule and party stakeholders for the confidence reposed in him, describing the decision as difficult but necessary for the cohesion of the party. “I feel highly elated, and I take it as the will of God for me to be in this capacity. I thank the Governor and all the stakeholders of the state for this very critical decision,” he said. He acknowledged that some of his colleagues who also aspired to the position felt aggrieved by the outcome but noted that they had pledged loyalty to the party and agreed to work for its progress in 2027. His response reflected the delicate balancing act that the APC has attempted to manage throughout the selection process, balancing ambition with unity and ensuring that those who lost out in the internal contest remain within the party’s fold rather than defect to rival platforms.
Reactions to the announcement have been largely positive within the APC, though the party is still working to consolidate support among those who sought the deputy slot. Governor Sule commended party stakeholders for attending the meeting despite the short notice, explaining that the venue was moved to Abuja because of his official engagements, including the North Central Development Commission summit, where he served as chief host, and his scheduled departure for the United Nations General Assembly session in New York. He stressed the importance of unity, saying the meeting was convened precisely to ensure that the party remains together as it prepares for the general election. The decision to hold the meeting in Abuja rather than Lafia underscored the governor’s tight schedule and the urgency of settling the deputy question before the campaign season fully takes off.
The 2027 contest in Nasarawa State will be shaped by several factors, including the APC’s ability to present a united front after the internal contest for the deputy ticket. The party has positioned its ticket as one that combines legislative experience at the national level with administrative and financial expertise at the state level. Wadada, a serving senator, has said his campaign will be anchored on unity, issue-based politics and sustainable development, with a commitment to security, prosperity and the dignity of residents. “Our message remains clear: One Nasarawa. One people. One future,” he said. His running mate, Ombugadu, is expected to bring grassroots connections and policy depth to the ticket. Together, they will face the electorate in 2027 with the task of persuading Nasarawa residents that the APC deserves another term in office and that their partnership is the right one to deliver on the state’s development aspirations. The coming months will reveal how effectively the party consolidates its base and whether the unity it has proclaimed at the top translates into genuine cohesion at the grassroots.
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