By Roseline Okafor,Karu Nasarawa State
…Declare Support for Mohammed Abubakar Adamu’s Governorship Ambition
Five former Chairmen of Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, alongside their former deputies and secretaries, have defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), in a major political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The defectors, who were accompanied by hundreds of their supporters, formally joined the SDP during a defection ceremony held at Gidan Zakara Primary School, Karu Local Government Area, on Sunday.
The development is being seen by party supporters as a significant boost to the SDP as it seeks to expand its political structure and challenge the dominance of the ruling APC in Nasarawa State ahead of the 2027 elections.
The ceremony attracted a large gathering of political stakeholders, supporters, women groups and members of the Fulani community from across the Nasarawa West Senatorial District.
Among those present were the wife of former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, women leaders under the aegis of Kwaliyar Lafia, as well as other community and political stakeholders who also declared their support for the governorship ambition of Mohammed Abubakar Adamu.
Leading the group of defectors was a former APC stakeholder in Nasarawa State, Hon. Joseph Maisamari Kaura, who led hundreds of APC members and supporters into the SDP.
Speaking during the ceremony, Kaura said the decision to leave the APC was motivated by what he described as the need for inclusive governance, internal democracy and a new political direction for Nasarawa State.
He said the defectors were not merely changing political parties but were moving with their political structures and supporters to strengthen the SDP across the state.
“We have left the APC because there is no internal democracy and no respect for stakeholders anymore. We are not just moving to the SDP, we are moving with our structures and our people to rescue Nasarawa State and to ensure the victory of Mohammed Abubakar Adamu as Governor in 2027,” Kaura said.
Kaura further described the defection as a collective decision by the former APC members to work towards what they believe would be a change of government in Nasarawa State in 2027.
According to him, the new political movement would begin from Karu Local Government Area and extend to other parts of the state, with the objective of building a formidable political structure capable of challenging the ruling party during the next general elections.
He pledged the commitment of the new SDP members to mobilising support for the party and its governorship candidate, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, across Karu and the wider Nasarawa State.
Also speaking at the event, the Director-General of the IGP Adamu Campaign Organization, Abdullahi Yamani, expressed appreciation to the people of Karu for embracing the SDP and supporting the governorship aspiration of Mohammed Abubakar Adamu.
Yamani described Adamu as the most suitable candidate for the governorship of Nasarawa State in 2027, citing his experience, competence and capacity to provide effective leadership.
He urged other politicians and supporters who still identify with the APC to reconsider their position and join the SDP, arguing that such a move would contribute to the development and progress of the state.
The campaign director-general also appealed to the people of Nasarawa State to support what he described as a movement for better governance and inclusive leadership.
The defectors were subsequently formally received into the SDP by the leadership of the party in Nasarawa State.
The party leadership assured the new members that they would be given equal opportunities and fully integrated into the party’s existing structure.
The mass defection comes as political activities intensify across Nasarawa State ahead of the 2027 general elections, with political parties and aspirants stepping up consultations, mobilisation and efforts to strengthen their grassroots structures.
For the SDP, the entry of the former Karu council chairmen, their former deputies and secretaries, as well as hundreds of their supporters, is expected to provide additional grassroots political structures for the party, particularly in the Nasarawa West Senatorial District.
The development also signals growing political competition in the state as parties begin to position themselves for the 2027 governorship and other elective contests.
