Nasarawa Forum Adopts Ombugadu As Consensus Gov Candidate

The Eggon Political Forum has adopted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Dr David Emmanuel Ombugadu, as its consensus candidate for the 2027 governorship election in Nasarawa State.

The forum announced the decision yesterday in a communiqué issued after its meeting at the Albert Event Hall, Lafia, in Nasarawa Eggon local government area.

According to the communiqué, the decision followed extensive consultations and assessment of six Eggon sons contesting the governorship seat on different party platforms.

The forum, which described itself as a non-partisan body, said it consulted Eggon stakeholders across the three senatorial zones, Eggon people in the diaspora, representatives of other ethnic nationalities, as well as youth, women and elders’ groups.

It said the assessment was based on stability of political parties, grassroots presence, popularity, party structures, previous records in public office, political experience and candidates’ manifestos.

The communiqué was signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Umaru Gwamna, Sangarin Eggon, and Secretary, Hon. Istifanus Dennis Abaku.

The six candidates screened were Hon. Shuaibu Umaru Kubi (Accord), Gen. Nuhu Angbazo (ADC), Hon. Chris Mamman (ADP), Hon. Ibrahim Kassimu Aboh (APGA), Rt. Hon. Dr David Emmanuel Ombugadu (PDP) and Mr John Tanko Kigbu (YPP).

The forum said one of the candidates was “overwhelmingly considered suitable” to represent the aspirations of the Eggon people.

“In the light of the above, we wish to formally declare that one of our sons, Rt. Hon. Dr David Emmanuel Ombugadu of PDP is hereby declared to be the consensus candidate of the Eggon people,” the communiqué stated.

It appealed to the five other candidates to support and rally around Ombugadu to ensure victory at the polls.

The group also called on other ethnic nationalities in the state to align with the Eggon people in supporting his candidature.

“It is very normal for us all to have our divergent interests, but the collective interest of the land is supreme,” it added.

Ombugadu, a former member of the House of Representatives, was the PDP governorship candidate in the 2019 and 2023 state elections. The Nasarawa PDP has affirmed him as its consensus candidate for 2027.

However, the President of the Eggon Youth Nationwide and the Eggon Cultural Development Association, Friday Haruna, who witnessed the meeting, said the broader Eggon stakeholders had yet to harmonise their position.

Haruna, who said he was invited to witness the proceedings, acknowledged the forum’s decision but noted that critical stakeholders would still meet to decide the collective political direction of the Eggon people.

“Just like I said, it’s a forum, and they choose to endorse one of the candidates. The Eggon are still going to sit and harmonise what they did, and it’s going to be pronounced, and everybody will know the direction,” he said.