The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has chosen Musa Shugaba-Abdullahi to contest the 2027 Nasarawa State governorship election on the platform of the party.
Shugaba-Abdullahi secured the ticket at the NDC substitution primary conducted by affirmation on Tuesday night in Lafia, the state capital.
The primary was organised under the supervision of the party’s Electoral Committee, while officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) monitored the exercise.
Chairman of the Electoral Committee and NDC National Treasurer, Dr Peter Onigah, said the process complied with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
Addressing supporters after his emergence, Shugaba-Abdullahi presented a five-point development agenda centred on education, healthcare, infrastructure, empowerment and security.
He pledged that, if elected governor, his administration would introduce free and compulsory education for children aged between three and 19.
“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.
The NDC candidate further proposed government assistance for young people aged 19 to 25 who intend to pursue NCE, OND, vocational training and selected medical programmes.
According to him, the state government would subsidise tuition for beneficiaries of the programmes, while their parents would be expected to cater for feeding.
On healthcare, Shugaba-Abdullahi said the sector would receive priority under his proposed administration, with the broader objective of positioning Nasarawa as 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 infrastructure development would be guided by the actual needs of individual communities, rather than the execution of projects that fail to address residents’ priorities.
The governorship candidate also recognised the constitutional limitations of state governments in security matters but said his administration would collaborate with the Federal Government to address insecurity and criminal activities across Nasarawa.
Explaining the reason for the fresh primary, NDC State Chairman, Hon. Dogo Shammah, said the substitution exercise followed gaps in the party’s earlier primary conducted in May 2026.
Shammah said some constituencies had no aspirants at the May exercise, leading the party to field placeholders in those positions.
He said the NDC was positioning itself for a strong showing in the 2027 general elections and called on party executives, zonal officers, local government and ward leaders to intensify mobilisation ahead of the polls.
The substitution primary also produced five candidates for the Nasarawa State House of Assembly.
They are Iliya Emmanuel Ayas for Kokona West Constituency; Lucy Kigbu-Anzaku for Keffi East; Mohammed Ramalan for Keffi West; Micha Mamman for Obi 1; and Hussaini Mustapha-Ganuwa for Toto/Gadabuke Constituency.
Leave feedback about this