2027: Ex-IG Adamu warns Nasarawa voters against vote buying

File: Former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.

A former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has said his ambition to govern Nasarawa State in 2027 is driven by his desire to improve the welfare of the common man.

This came as he has raised the alarm over alleged plans by political opponents to buy Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from women to disenfranchise them in the upcoming elections he also urged residents—particularly women—to safeguard their voter cards and resist financial inducements aimed at suppressing voter turnout.

Adamu stated this on Tuesday in Doma Local Government Area of the state while responding to his endorsement as the preferred governorship candidate by thousands of Alago indigenes in the Nasarawa South Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 election.

The former police chief thanked God for the progress recorded in his political journey, saying his achievements would not have been possible without divine intervention.

He also expressed appreciation to the Alago Support Group for the endorsement and its commitment to supporting his campaign. He said the endorsement showed the people’s willingness to vote for him and expressed confidence that he would win the governorship election in 2027.

“Because yesterday, the people gathered, and the progressives as a whole came out and endorsed me for governor. Also, the major tribe that is prominent here endorsed me. I am grateful for the strong assurance they gave us (SDP) that we will not face any hardship on election day,” he said.

Adamu said his decision to contest was aimed at improving the lives of ordinary people suffering under the prevailing circumstances, accusing the government of neglecting mothers, children and youths while focusing on issues that did not directly affect their welfare.

“Our coming out for this election is for the common people. We came out for the common man, to see that the common man does not suffer the way they are suffering now,” he stated.

He promised to prioritise the welfare of residents if elected, with particular emphasis on quality education, healthcare and security.

“We will put people’s lives first. To see that quality education is given to our people, we will also ensure quality healthcare, and on the issue of security, we will see that everyone will find peace so that people can return to their homes to sleep without any fear,” Adamu said.

The governorship aspirant also raised the alarm over alleged plans to buy votes and collect Permanent Voter Cards from women to prevent them from voting.

“Those who don’t have people following them are collecting cards in the hands of women; they are buying so as to stop them from coming out to vote. Therefore, anyone who collected a card, let them go and collect their card. Everyone should not agree to sell their card, and everyone should come out on election day with their card,” he urged.

Earlier, the leader of the conveners, Danjuma Joseph, said the movement was conceived after its members resolved that the Alago people could not remain on the sidelines while the future of Nasarawa State was being shaped.

Joseph said that after thorough political and moral scrutiny, they found in Adamu a man of proven integrity, an impeccable track record and uncommon patriotism, who had served Nigeria meritoriously and risen to the pinnacle of his career.

He said Adamu was not a stranger to Alago land, citing his historical and blood ties with the people, including his schooling alongside prominent Alago sons and daughters in Obi and his maternal links to the community.

“We have resolved that we will no longer be onlookers or fence-sitters while the political destiny of our dear state is being decided. The time to participate, to take a stand and to take our destiny in our own hands is now,” Joseph declared.

He said there should be no acrimony over the candidate the Alago people chose to support, citing Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of association. He stressed that their constitutional and political choice remained Adamu.

Joseph added that the current political era was one of a “Rainbow Coalition”, in which people could remain in their political parties while supporting candidates of their choice. He described the group’s decision as a political alliance for the benefit of the Alago people and Nasarawa State.

“Your Excellency, this programme today is organised on the sacred sand of Alago ancestral land, in the name of Alago and in the interest of Alago. It is a political covenant, a bond of trust between you and the Alago nation. By the grace of God, when you ascend as Governor, do not forget Alago people,” he told Adamu.

Joseph said the group would visit all Alago electoral wards in Nasarawa South and extend its mobilisation efforts to the Nasarawa North and West senatorial districts to secure support for Adamu in the 2027 governorship election.