A controversy has erupted within the Nasarawa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the composition of the party’s governorship campaign council.
This follows the inclusion of Kabiru Dallah, the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) candidate for the Lafia/Obi Federal Constituency, in the council.
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The development has triggered allegations of a secret political arrangement between the APC leadership in the state and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike’s Rainbow Coalition.
Some party members are questioning the circumstances surrounding Mr Dallah’s inclusion in the campaign council.
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The controversy emerged shortly after the state chapter of the APC released the composition of its campaign council, which listed Mr Dallah as a member of the Youth Mobilisation Committee.
The party’s state secretary, Yarus Daguza, who signed the list, denied any alliance with the Rainbow Coalition and said Mr Dallah’s name has since been removed.
Yet, some party members insist that his initial inclusion raises serious questions that require investigation.
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Some aggrieved members have called on Governor Abdullahi Sule, who is also the party’s leader in the state, to set aside the list and constitute a fresh campaign council that reflects the interests of all party stakeholders.
They argued that such a move would restore confidence among members and strengthen the party’s chances in the 2027 general elections.
The controversy has also reportedly contributed to the reluctance of some supporters of gubernatorial aspirants who contested the APC primary election against the party’s candidate, Senator Ahmed Wadada, to participate in the campaign council.
The supporters accused both the party leadership and the governorship candidate of neglecting their interests.
Jacob Peters, from Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area, described the campaign council list as defective, alleging that it contained several errors and questionable appointments capable of undermining the party’s electoral fortunes.
“Some people are wrongly placed, while some individuals have no business in the campaign council,” he alleged.
He added that some party members believe that individuals working against the party’s interests may have infiltrated its leadership structure to sabotage its chances in the state.
Other members also expressed concern that those entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring the party’s electoral success were not demonstrating sufficient commitment, noting that only a few individuals were actively campaigning for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other APC candidates.
Similarly, Shugaba Bello of Zanwa Ward in Lafia called on Governor Sule to set aside the controversial campaign council list and restructure it to achieve better results.
Sadau Ahmed, from Nasarawa Central Constituency in Nasarawa Local Government Area, alleged that Mr Wadada had, even before the release of the list, decided to retain members of his former senatorial campaign council to avoid internal disagreements.
Another party member, Kefas Dangana from Obi Local Government Area, questioned the inclusion of Mr Dallah, describing it as evidence of a lack of commitment by the APC leadership to the party’s success.
“The APC also has a candidate for that constituency, yet the party leadership opted to include the name of another party’s candidate as a member of its campaign council,” he said.
The campaign council has Governor Sule as chairman of its Advisory Committee, alongside former governors and other prominent party stakeholders.
However, the state secretary of the party, Yarus Daguza, insisted that the APC had no political understanding with Wike’s Rainbow Coalition.
READ ALSO: 2027: Mutfwang inaugurates APC campaign council in Plateau
“We have deleted the name of Kabiru Dallah. Nasarawa APC is not a member of the Rainbow Coalition,” he said.
Meanwhile, Samuel Jacob from Kuru in Toto Local Government Area alleged that the state leadership of the party had yet to demonstrate sufficient commitment towards ensuring victory for the APC in the 2027 general elections.
He urged the party leadership to put aside personal interests and work collectively for the success of all its candidates.
“The party must rise above selfish interests and ensure the success of all, not just a few people.
“We in Nasarawa West are also being told that Dr Faisal Shuaib, our candidate for the Nasarawa Senatorial District election, is not in the good books of the state party leadership, but rather that they favour a candidate from another party.
“We are waiting for the party to clarify this,” he said.
The growing discontent among party members has raised concerns about internal cohesion within the Nasarawa APC as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.
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