APC Group in Nasarawa Condemns Senator Wadada's Alleged Misuse of Tinubu's Name
A pressure group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State has issued a stern warning to Senator Ahmed Wadada, accusing him of improperly leveraging the name of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to secure an unfair advantage in the upcoming 2027 governorship race. The Nasarawa APC Integrity Forum, in a statement released on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, expressed deep concern over what it describes as undemocratic tactics that threaten the integrity of the electoral process.
Allegations of Intimidation and Name-Dropping
The group, represented by spokespersons Zamani Daniel and Ibrahim Tukur in Lafia, alleged that Senator Wadada, who represents Nasarawa West, has been boasting about his purported closeness to President Tinubu and a close associate, Mr. Gilbert Chagoury. According to the forum, this behavior is not only misleading but also serves to intimidate other aspirants and their supporters, creating an uneven playing field. "We know Mr. President to be a true democrat and a believer in upholding the wishes of the majority," the statement read. "This is why we are bothered and surprised that Wadada is boasting that Mr. President will hand-pick him ahead of more entrenched and popular aspirants."
The APC Integrity Forum emphasized that democracy should be a contest of ideas and popularity, not influence-peddling. It called for all aspirants to market themselves directly to the people, especially with the adoption of direct primaries by party stakeholders. "Anyone who thinks is popular enough should market himself to the people. Let Nasarawa citizens and party members choose who is best for them," the group asserted, urging a return to fair and transparent competition.
Further Accusations of Undemocratic Tactics
In addition to name-dropping, the group accused Senator Wadada of attempting to use security and anti-corruption agencies to pressure formidable opponents in the race for the APC ticket. The forum warned that such actions are constitutionally unacceptable and pose a danger to Nigeria's democratic foundations. "Political aspiration is within the constitutionally guaranteed rights of every citizen. Everyone should be free to pursue their political aspirations without fear or hindrance," the statement continued. "A situation where a contestant resorts to undemocratic tactics to scare away fellow aspirants is not only undesirable but dangerous to our democracy."
This criticism echoes earlier concerns raised by another sociopolitical group, the Nasarawa People Mandate Group, which in March accused Senator Wadada of employing high-handed actions, including blackmail and strong-arm tactics. That group warned that such behavior could lead to chaos within the APC and potentially cost the party victory in the 2027 elections, highlighting the risk of internal disintegration and bad blood among members.
Call for Presidential Intervention
The APC Integrity Forum has implicitly called on President Tinubu to intervene and ensure that the electoral process in Nasarawa remains fair and democratic. By stressing Tinubu's reputation as a democrat, the group hopes to prompt a reassessment of Wadada's strategies and reinforce the importance of grassroots support over elite endorsements. As the 2027 elections approach, this controversy underscores the ongoing tensions within political parties over nomination processes and the need for adherence to democratic principles to maintain party unity and public trust.
