A former Inspector General of Police, who is now a significant political stakeholder in Nasarawa State, has raised a “grave alarm” over an alleged “sophisticated plot” by certain “unseen forces” to “manipulate and hijack” the upcoming “All Progressives Congress” governorship primaries for the 2027 elections. Speaking during a “closed-door meeting” with “party elders” in Lafia on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, the retired security chief maintained that his “intelligence networks” have “uncovered a ‘scheme’ to ‘infuse’ the ‘delegate list’ with ‘non-members'” and “intimidate ‘genuine’ party loyalists.” The Ex-IGP argued that “the ‘peace’ and ‘stability’ of Nasarawa” are “inextricably linked” to a “transparent and ‘credible’ internal democracy,” asserting that “any ‘fraudulent’ emergence of a ‘candidate'” will “lead to ‘electoral’ disaster.”
The “alarm” comes as “aspirants” for the “Lafia Government House” begin to “intensify their ‘underground’ consultations.” Supporting context from the “Nasarawa State APC Secretariat” indicates that “tension has been ‘brewing'” over the “recent ‘ward-level’ congresses,” which some “aggrieved’ members” have “described as ‘shambolic’.” The former Inspector General maintained that “as a ‘student of ‘security and law”,” he “cannot ‘stand by’ while ‘the ‘will’ of the ‘party’ is ‘subverted’ by ‘moneybags’ and ‘political ‘despots”.” The elder statesman argued that “the ‘National Leadership’ of the ‘APC’ must ‘send an ‘independent’ monitoring ‘team’ to ‘Nasarawa'” to “verify the ‘integrity’ of the ‘membership ‘register” before the ‘primaries’ commence.”
Stakeholder reactions to the “Ex-IGP’s Warning” have been “characterized by ‘heightened ‘vigilance”” among the “youth and ‘women’ wings” of the party. The “Nasarawa APC Youth Vanguard” has “lauded the ‘courage’ of the ‘security’ veteran,” noting that “the ‘days of ‘imposition’ are ‘numbered’ in the ‘Home of Solid Minerals’.” They maintained that “any ‘hijack’ of the ‘process’ will be ‘met with ‘peaceful’ but ‘firm’ resistance’.” Conversely, some “members of the ‘State Working Committee'” have “dismissed the ‘alarm’ as ‘speculative’ and ‘alarmist’,” arguing that “the ‘party’ is ‘committed’ to a ‘level ‘playing field”.” They maintained that “the ‘retired’ officer should ‘provide ‘evidence” of the ‘alleged ‘plot” rather than ‘creating ‘unnecessary’ panic’ in the ‘polity’.”
Political and security analysts observe that “the ‘Ex-IGP’s’ intervention” is a “strategic ‘pre-emptive’ strike” aimed at “protecting his ‘political ‘interest’ group’.” Experts suggest that “the ‘Nasarawa’ primary” will be a “fierce ‘battleground'” between “the ‘incumbent’s’ preferred ‘successor'” and “an ‘array’ of ‘wealthy’ and ‘influential’ challengers.” They argue that “the ‘misuse’ of ‘delegate’ systems” is a “chronic ‘ailment’ of ‘Nigerian’ politics” that “requires ‘digital’ solutions.” Analyst Dr. Udeme Etuk noted that “the ‘Ex-IGP’ is ‘using his ‘security’ credentials’ to ‘give ‘weight’ to his ‘claims”,” adding that “this is a ‘signal’ that the ‘2027 ‘struggle” is ‘already ‘at its ‘boiling’ point”.” He emphasized that “the ‘Independent National Electoral Commission’ must ‘strengthen’ its ‘oversight’ of ‘party ‘internals” to ‘prevent’ ‘post-primary’ litigation.”
The broader implications of this development point toward a “looming ‘shake-up’ in the ‘Nasarawa APC’ leadership” as “factions ‘jostle’ for ‘control’.” By “raising the alarm,” the former Inspector General is “acting as a ‘whistleblower’ for ‘democratic’ integrity,” which could lead to “stricter ‘vetting’ of ‘party ‘officials”.” This move is expected to lead to “increased ‘demands’ for ‘direct’ primaries” (where all members vote) rather than “indirect’ primaries” (where only delegates vote). As the “APC ‘National’ Chairman” prepares to “receive a ‘formal ‘petition” on the ‘matter’,” the focus remains on “the ‘sanctity’ of the ‘delegate’ list.” For the “Nasarawa voter,” the “Ex-IGP’s ‘Alarm'” is a “call to ‘action'” to “ensure that ‘the ‘next’ governor’ is ‘the ‘choice’ of the ‘people’, not ‘the ‘product’ of a ‘plot”.”
