The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared 13 candidates for the 2027 governorship election in Nasarawa State.
Based on the impressive backgrounds and credentials of the contestants, Nasarawa will have one of the most experienced fields nationwide in the February 2027 elections.
Among the 13 candidates are serving and former lawmakers, a former inspector-general of police, and a retired army general.
They are all seeking to succeed Governor Abdullahi Sule of the APC, who is serving his final term.
The candidates’ political parties include the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Aliyu Wadada, a serving senator and the APC candidate, and Emmanuel Ombugadu of the PDP are among the prominent faces in the race.
Mohammed Adamu, a former inspector-general of police contesting on the SDP platform, and retired Major-General Nuhu Angbazo of the ADC will also be on the ballot.
The candidates have different political backgrounds, ranging from legislative experience to military and police service, business and community engagement.
The major contenders
Wadada, 61, is the APC candidate and represents Nasarawa West Senatorial District in the Senate. He previously served in the House of Representatives, representing the Keffi/Karu/Kokona Federal Constituency.
His candidacy places an experienced federal lawmaker at the centre of the APC’s effort to retain control of Nasarawa State.
Mr Ombugadu, 48, the PDP candidate, is a former member of the House of Representatives, where he represented the Akwanga/Nasarawa Eggon/Wamba Federal Constituency.
He is a familiar figure in the state’s opposition politics and has previously contested the governorship election.
Adamu, 65, the SDP candidate, is a former inspector-general of police.
His background in policing distinguishes him from several other candidates, although his experience in security administration will be only one of the factors voters may consider in assessing his suitability for the office.
Angbazo, 59, is the ADC candidate and a retired major-general of the Nigerian Army. His military career and links to the Eggon community form part of his public profile.
Gaza Gbefwi, 51, is the Labour Party candidate. He represents the Karu/Keffi/Kokona Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and is seeking to move from federal legislative politics to the state’s executive leadership.
Full list of candidates
The 13 candidates published by INEC, arranged alphabetically by party, are:
ADC — Nuhu Angbazo (59)
ADP — Christopher Mamman (64)
APC — Aliyu Ahmed Wadada (61)
APGA — Ibrahim Kasimu Aboh (61)
APM — Onawo Mohammed Ogoshi (74)
APP — Dahiru Musa Doma (59)
LP — Gaza Jonathan Gbefwi (51)
NRM — Khalid Muhammad (55)
PDP — Emmanuel David Ombugadu (48)
PRP — Abdullahi Omame Abisabo (35)
SDP — Mohammed Abubakar Adamu (65)
YPP — Kigbu Tanko John (61)
ZLP — Giza Abubakar Abdu (69)
Abisabo, 35, is the youngest candidate on the list, while Ogoshi, 74, is the oldest.
The field brings together candidates with different levels of political and public-service experience.
However, their inclusion on the ballot does not, by itself, indicate their electoral strength or prospects.
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The campaigns offer voters across the state’s 13 local government areas an opportunity to assess the candidates’ records, policy proposals and plans for addressing the state’s development challenges.
Issues such as security, infrastructure, employment, education, healthcare and economic development are likely to be central to public scrutiny of the candidates.
The final list is part of INEC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections, scheduled to include the governorship contest in Nasarawa State.
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