The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has picked Musa Shugaba-Abdullahi as its candidate for the 2027 Nasarawa State governorship election.
Shugaba-Abdullahi emerged during the party’s substitution primary held on Tuesday night in Lafia, the state capital.
The exercise was conducted through affirmation and overseen by the NDC Electoral Committee, with officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, supervising the process.
The chairman of the electoral committee and NDC National Treasurer, Dr Peter Onigah, said the exercise was conducted in accordance with the Electoral Act.
Speaking after his emergence, Shugaba-Abdullahi unveiled a five-point agenda focused on education, healthcare, infrastructure, empowerment and security.
He promised to provide free and compulsory education for children between the ages of three and 19 if elected, saying the policy would help reduce illiteracy and address some social challenges affecting young people.
Shugaba-Abdullahi also promised government support for youths between 19 and 25 seeking to pursue National Certificate in Education, NCE, Ordinary National Diploma, OND, vocational and selected medical programmes. He said the government would subsidise tuition while parents would be responsible for feeding.
On healthcare, he said his administration would prioritise the sector and work towards making Nasarawa a medical hub in Nigeria.
“Our aim is to reduce the need for Nigerians to travel to India, Dubai, the United Kingdom and other countries for medical treatment,” he said.
On infrastructure, the NDC candidate promised to adopt a community-based approach, with projects determined by the specific needs of communities rather than the execution of projects he described as white elephants.
He also acknowledged the limited constitutional role of state governments in security matters but pledged to work with the Federal Government to address insecurity and criminal activities in Nasarawa.
The NDC State Chairman, Dogo Shammah, explained that the substitution primary became necessary because some constituencies did not have aspirants during the party’s May 2026 primary, leading to the use of placeholders.
The exercise also produced five candidates for the Nasarawa State House of Assembly: Iliya Emmanuel Ayas for Kokona West, Lucy Kigbu-Anzaku for Keffi East, Mohammed Ramalan for Keffi West, Micha Mamman for Obi 1 and Hussaini Mustapha-Ganuwa for Toto/Gadabuke Constituency.
With the substitution process completed, the NDC is expected to proceed with its campaign and mobilisation activities across the state ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Support InfoStride News' Credible Journalism: Only credible journalism can guarantee a fair, accountable and transparent society, including democracy and government. It involves a lot of efforts and money. We need your support. Click here to Donate