The Immediate Past Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, has declared his support for the 2027 governorship ambition of Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu, describing him as a “candidate to beat” in the forthcoming election.
Balarabe Abdullahi made the declaration on Tuesday in Lafia when he received members of the Senator Wadada Youth Ambassadors, a youth mobilisation and support group backing the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the state.
The former Speaker said he had been closely monitoring the activities of the group and commended its grassroots mobilisation efforts, urging members to sustain the momentum ahead of the 2027 election.
He assured the youth group of his availability to provide advice and guidance whenever needed, stressing that the project was a collective one.
“I will always be there for you people at any time because it is our project. Collectively or individually, feel free to come for advice and guidance at any time,” he said.
Balarabe also described his relationship with Senator Wadada as a long-standing personal and political association, saying the senator’s political project had consequently become his own.
“I have a long-time relationship with Sen. Wadada. It is a personal relationship; he is a friend and political associate. Therefore, his project automatically becomes my project,” he said.
According to him, both men share similar political values and maintain a relationship based on honesty and mutual understanding.
The former Speaker also recalled the 2023 National Assembly election, when some members of the APC supported Wadada, who contested the Nasarawa West Senatorial District election on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
“In the last election, some of us in APC supported and worked for Wadada for Senate in SDP, and I never regretted that. What we did was not anti-party but anti-person, because I know he is the best man for the job. He has the capacity and he will bring development to our people,” he said.
Balarabe, who represented the Toto/Gadabuke constituency in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, said his previous electoral victories had given him and his political allies considerable experience in election strategy and grassroots mobilisation.
“I contested election in 2015, I won; I contested in 2019, I won; and I contested in 2023, I won. We know how to win elections. We know the strategy and mobilisation. We will deliver Umaisha 100 per cent for Wadada, Insha Allah,” he said.
He expressed confidence that Senator Wadada would emerge victorious in the 2027 governorship election, attributing political leadership ultimately to God.
“We will win in 2027. God gives power, and we are requesting from Him. By His grace, Wadada will be the next Governor,” he added.
Speaking on the political situation in Toto Local Government Area, Balarabe said the political camp was confident of securing support in Gadabuke but acknowledged challenges in Toto town.
“We will secure Gadabuke by God’s grace, but the fact that we can’t hide is that we have issues in Toto town, and we can’t run away from that fact. But by God’s grace, it will be tackled in the long run. We will talk to our people and they will understand us, Insha Allah, and we will get there,” he said.
He further reiterated that his support for Wadada predated the governor’s endorsement of the senator, describing the project as one that was personally important to him.
Balarabe urged members of the youth group to intensify their grassroots mobilisation, noting that electoral success depended on numbers, strategy and strong connections with local communities.
“I have been with Sen. Wadada long before his endorsement by the Governor, so this project is dear to my heart, and we will do our best to deliver. I therefore urge you to do your best in your grassroots mobilisation. Politics is local; it is a game of numbers and strategies,” he said.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Senator Wadada Youth Ambassadors, Zaidu Aliyu Tanko, said the group visited the former Speaker to identify with him as one of the political leaders they look up to as members of the younger generation.
Tanko said the visit was also aimed at seeking Balarabe Abdullahi’s continued advice, mentorship and guidance as the group works towards achieving its political objectives ahead of the 2027 governorship election.