By Gambo Hamza
Political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections are creating new strategic roles for experienced political actors across Nigeria.
In Nasarawa State, one of the notable developments is the emergence of Rt. Hon. Dr. Musa Ahmed Mohamed, popularly known as Baraden Nasarawa, as the Nasarawa State Coordinator of Arewa for Asiwaju (A4A), a Northern mobilisation platform supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
A4A has established structures across the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory.
For Nasarawa, the appointment matters because of the experience, relationships and political networks Baraden Nasarawa brings.
From A4A to Broader Mobilisation
His new role places him at the intersection of national and state-level mobilisation.
Nationally, A4A is focused on mobilising Northern support for Tinubu. In Nasarawa, the APC is consolidating behind Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, its 2027 governorship candidate. This creates a convergence: a coordinated grassroots network can promote the Tinubu message nationally while strengthening the APC governorship campaign in the state.
Recent activities point in that direction. APC stakeholders have called for unity behind the party’s candidates, while the Wadada Project has coordinators across the state’s 13 local government areas, 18 area administrative councils, 147 wards and polling units. Baraden’s task is less about creating a parallel structure and more about connecting people, organisations and networks to existing party and campaign structures—through consultation with traditional and community stakeholders, youth and women groups, professionals, civil society and political leaders.
Experience as an Advantage
Baraden Nasarawa brings legislative, administrative and political experience. As former Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, he gained experience in legislative leadership, negotiation and constituency engagement.
As Nasarawa State Accountant General, he was exposed to public administration and government institutions. This combination is valuable in a mobilisation assignment requiring communication, consultation, organisation and consensus-building.
Having contested the APC Governorship primary and later supported the direction that produced Wadada as candidate, he can also use his relationships to encourage reconciliation and cooperation.
Governor Abdullahi Sule’s endorsement of Wadada was followed by broader stakeholder engagement and APC activities have continued to emphasise unity.
Building Bridges
A key task ahead of 2027 is maintaining cohesion within the APC and its wider support base. Baraden can serve as one of the bridges between different constituencies, reaching groups that may not actively participate in conventional party structures.
Successful grassroots mobilisation requires sustained engagement—listening, communicating, reconciling differences and maintaining contact with communities throughout the electoral cycle.
A Two-Level Mission
His A4A appointment carries a two-level mission: nationally, contributing to Northern mobilisation for Tinubu’s re-election; at state level, helping strengthen coordination, reconciliation and grassroots engagement around Wadada’s APC Governorship campaign.
These objectives can reinforce each other if coordinated with existing APC structures, campaign organisations and stakeholders rather than operating as a separate political machinery.
From Personal Ambition to Collective Mobilisation
The role also marks a transition from individual political aspiration to broader mobilisation responsibility. His governorship contest showed personal ambition; his new assignment asks him to build bridges and mobilise support for candidates beyond himself.
In 2027, Nasarawa politics will require managing competing interests while maintaining a coherent campaign structure.
The Road to 2027
The real test will be the quality of mobilisation, consultation and grassroots engagement that follows. Baraden’s effectiveness will be seen in how well he connects political leaders with communities, encourages cooperation, strengthens communication and contributes to a coordinated campaign environment. His new role is more than a political title: it gives an experienced Nasarawa actor a platform to support Northern mobilisation for Tinubu while working within the political environment backing Wadada in Nasarawa.
Whether these efforts translate into electoral success will ultimately be determined by voters and the electoral process.
But Baraden Nasarawa’s emergence in this coordinating role adds another important layer to the political organisation taking shape ahead of 2027.
By Gambo Hamza, via gambohamz@gmail.com
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