The Adamawa State capital came alive on Saturday as Abdulrahman Bashir Haske formally declared his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), unveiling a far-reaching development blueprint designed to reposition the state for inclusive growth and sustainable prosperity.
The declaration ceremony, held at the iconic Mahmud Ribadu Square in Yola, attracted a massive cross section of party faithful, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth and women groups, members of the diaspora community, and APC stakeholders from across Adamawa’s 21 local government areas, alongside national and sub-national dignitaries. Also in attendance were representatives of the City Boy Movement (CBM), over 265 women’s associations from across the state, and supporters from different parts of the country.
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Addressing the enthusiastic crowd, Mr Haske described the moment as both historic and personal, anchored in what he called a lifelong bond with Adamawa State. He noted that he was born and raised in the state, built his enterprises there, and remained deeply invested in its future.
He paid glowing tribute to President Bola Tinubu for what he described as courageous and necessary national reforms, while also acknowledging the efforts of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, whose administration, he said, had laid important foundations in governance and infrastructure.
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He also applauded the party leadership at the national level, the newly inaugurated APC leadership led by Hamza Bello in the state and other state executives of the party and chieftains, stressing that he had tremendous confidence in their capacity to create a level-playing field for aspirants to drive the development of the party.
Mr Haske’s declaration was headlined by the unveiling of his A.D.A.M.A.W.A First Agenda, a seven-point policy framework aimed at addressing critical economic, social, and security challenges facing the state, just as he said that the next phase of Adamawa’s development must be driven by continuity, innovation, and people-centred leadership.
On Agriculture and Agro Industry, he pledged to transform agriculture into a modern wealth-creating sector, targeting a ₦300 billion export-grade economy, the creation of one million jobs, and the establishment of a ₦200 billion agricultural guarantee fund. Drawing on personal experience, he cited the establishment of a 48,000-tonne-per-annum rice processing mill in the North-east as evidence of his capacity to deliver results-driven development.
Under Development and Infrastructure, Mr Haske promised equitable and needs-based infrastructure delivery, including the rehabilitation of a minimum of 25 kilometres of roads annually in each local government area, expansion of renewable energy solutions, improved access to clean water, and enhanced digital connectivity to integrate Adamawa’s youth into the global knowledge economy.
His Access to Social Development agenda prioritises human capital, with plans to rehabilitate 500 schools, train and recruit 3,000 STEM-qualified teachers, and expand the Adamawa Health Insurance Scheme to cover at least one million residents within three years, with special focus on the elderly and vulnerable groups.
Emphasising Meaningful Youth Inclusion, Mr Haske said youth participation would go beyond rhetoric to measurable outcomes through access to capital, skills development, and technology-driven governance. He noted that over 60 per cent of Adamawa’s population is under the age of 30 and must be central to policy formulation and implementation.
He further committed to Accountable and Inclusive Governance, pledging zero tolerance for corruption, digital tracking of public funds, open budgeting, and performance-based leadership. On Wealth Creation and Economic Empowerment, he outlined plans to attract value-adding investors through public-private partnerships and to integrate all local governments into the state’s expanding economic value chain.
Addressing security concerns, Mr Haske proposed the establishment of an Adamawa Security Trust Fund to modernise security operations and strengthen intelligence-led policing, while promoting sustained dialogue to address communal conflicts.
Describing his ambition as a covenant with the people, Mr Haske stressed that he was seeking the honour to serve, not power for its own sake, promising leadership rooted in unity, transparency, and shared prosperity.
The event was graced by the National Youth Leader of the APC, Dayo Israel; his Northern Deputy, Jamaludeen Kabiru; former Senator Binta Garba; the Special Assistant to the President on Youth Development, Titilope Gbadamosi; and the Director General of the National Gallery of Art, Ahmad Sodangi, among other dignitaries.
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