Musa Shugaba-Abdullahi has emerged as the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate for Nasarawa State in the 2027 general elections. His emergence followed a substitution primary election held Tuesday night in Lafia, the state capital, where his candidature was affirmed. The exercise was conducted under the supervision of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), according to the party.
The NDC National Treasurer and chairman of the electoral committee, Dr Peter Onigah, said the exercise was conducted in line with the Electoral Act. The primary was described as an affirmation rather than a contested election. The development formally positions Shugaba-Abdullahi as the party’s candidate for the Nasarawa governorship contest.
Speaking after his emergence, Shugaba-Abdullahi outlined a five-point agenda covering education, health, infrastructure, empowerment and security. He promised free and compulsory education for children from age 3 to 19 if elected, saying the policy would target illiteracy and its associated social challenges.
“We want to reduce illiteracy to the barest minimum. One of the reasons for insecurity and other social vices is because a good number of our youth are illiterate,” he said.
For residents aged 19 to 25, Shugaba-Abdullahi said his proposed administration would subsidise tuition for National Certificate in Education (NCE), Ordinary National Diploma (OND), vocational and some medical courses. He added that parents would remain responsible for feeding costs.
On healthcare, the NDC governorship candidate said his administration would prioritise the sector and seek to position Nasarawa State as a medical hub. He said the objective would be to reduce medical tourism to destinations including India, Dubai and the United Kingdom.
He also pledged to pursue community-specific infrastructure development based on needs assessments rather than what he described as white elephant projects. On security, he acknowledged the limited powers available to state governments but said his administration would work with the Federal Government to reduce insecurity and criminality.
NDC State Chairman, Hon. Dogo Shammah, said the substitution primary became necessary because some constituencies had no aspirants during the May 2026 primaries, resulting in the use of placeholders. He said the party intends to participate in and win the 2027 elections.
“This occasion marks the beginning of fruitful engagement in our dear state to wrestle power in order to save our people from the shackles of underdevelopment under the ruling party in Nigeria and Nasarawa State in particular,” he said.
The exercise also produced five NDC candidates for the Nasarawa State House of Assembly. They are Iliya Emmanuel Ayas for Kokona West, Lucy Kigbu-Anzaku for Keffi East, Mohammed Ramalan for Keffi West, Micha Mamman for Obi 1 Constituency and Hussaini Mustapha-Ganuwa for Toto/Gadabuke.
The emergence of Shugaba-Abdullahi adds another candidate to the political contest ahead of the 2027 Nasarawa governorship election, with the NDC expected to begin preparations for its campaign and wider electoral mobilisation.
The article keeps the reported facts and quotations intact while restructuring the material for Unity Times NG’s national-news style.
