The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has conducted its substitution primary in Nasarawa, producing Mr Musa Shugaba-Abdullahi as its governorship candidate for the 2027 general elections.
The exercise was held on Tuesday in Lafia and also produced five candidates for the Nasarawa State House of Assembly.
Dr Peter Onigah, NDC National Treasurer and Chairman of the Electoral Committee, said the exercise was conducted in accordance with the Electoral Act and supervised by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The House of Assembly candidates are Iliya Emmanuel Ayas for Kokona West; Lucy Kigbu-Anzaku for Keffi East; Mohammed Ramalan for Keffi West; Micha Mamman for Obi I; and Hussaini Mustapha-Ganuwa for Toto/Gadabuke.
Speaking after his affirmation, Shugaba-Abdullahi said his administration, if elected, would implement a five-point agenda focusing on education, healthcare, infrastructure, empowerment and security.
He pledged free and compulsory education for children aged three to 19, saying this would help reduce illiteracy and address some social challenges.
“We want to reduce illiteracy to the barest minimum. One of the reasons for insecurity and other social vices is because a good number of our youth are illiterate,” he said.
He also promised to subsidise tuition for youths aged 19 to 25 studying NCE, OND, vocational and selected medical courses, while parents would remain responsible for feeding.
On healthcare, Shugaba-Abdullahi said the sector would receive priority attention, with the goal of making Nasarawa a medical hub and reducing medical tourism to countries such as India, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.
He said infrastructure projects would be tailored to the needs of individual communities, while empowerment programmes would be designed based on the needs of residents.
On security, he acknowledged the limited powers of state governments but promised to collaborate with the federal government to tackle insecurity and criminality in the state.
The NDC State Chairman, Comrade Dogo Shammah, said the substitution became necessary because some constituencies had no aspirants during the party’s May primaries.
He said the situation led to the use of placeholders, necessitating the conduct of the substitution primary.
Shammah said the party was determined not only to participate in the 2027 elections but also to win.
He urged party executives, zonal officers, local government and ward leaders to mobilise members ahead of the elections.
The chairman commended the party’s National Leader, Sen. Seriake Dickson, and the National Working Committee for their support toward the success of the exercise.
