The political cloud is hazy in Adamawa state as the days roll by and the 2027 elections close in. Some individuals within the political parties especially the two major parties – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have shown interest to vie for the coveted seat of governor through their supporters.
Realignment, intrigues and permutations are discreetly ongoing by the gladiators, who want to have a shot at the number one seat of the state. For the ruling PDP, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintri has told the world he will be handing over the reins of governance to a grassroots politician in 2027.
On its part, the APC is entangled by a serious conflict of interest between its major stakeholders, namely, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA), the party’s gubernatorial candidate for 2023 election Senator Aishatu Ahmed Binani, and Senator Abdulazeez Nyako.
The Labour Party (LP) is likely to throw into the ring former Senator Ishiaku Abbo from Adamawa North. But it’s being speculated that Senator Binani from Adamawa Central may quit the APC and vie for the LP ticket to contest again in 2027.
The former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong may contest on the platform of the PDP. The present Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Alhaji Ibrahim Yayaji Mijinyawa, may also seek the PDP ticket, his second attempt, having lost the APC ticket in 2014 to Senator Mohammed Bidow Jibrilla from Adamawa North. Going by If recent events, Mijinyawa will no doubt contest.
For the opposition APC, it is still hazy as to who will vie for its ticket. But some political analysts believe that the sacked Minister of Education, Professor Mamman Tahir, from Adamawa North, will seek the party’s ticket for the 2027 elections.
However, it’s not clear if Nuhu Ribadu will may bid for the APC ticket or he play the role of a kingmaker as he controls the party structure in the state.
If the people of Jimeta are desirous of having their own as the next governor of the state they must put their acts together to avoid a repeat of 2007. A son of the soil, the late Alhaji Ibrahim Bapetel, didn’t get the support of the people of Jimeta.
In fact, he was not supported by some critical stakeholders in his Ajiya ward, who are today clamouring for Adamawa Central to produce the next governor, preferably from Jimeta.
If the people have realised their mistake and now want a united front as we matched towards another cycle of election, it’s imperative for them to give a resounding support to the aspiration of Mijinyawa. Mijinyawa is a tested and trusted politician. He started as councillor in the defunct Yola local government and became its chairman. Yola-Nort when it was curved out of the then Yola local government.
The people of the state are getting sophisticated in the art of politics, that they cannot be fooled by the antics of some politicians that come to them only when they are in need of their precious votes during elections even though the people have their little foibles by accepting gratification to cast their votes.
The people are urging those that want to contest for the exalted seat of the state to be aware that the state is the lifeline and exit route for the poverty ravaged people of the state.
No matter what, the people are anxiously waiting for the call on politicking to start and for a new dawn in Adamawa state. The youth that constitute the greater majority of voters will no doubt go for someone that will provide succour through employment for them in order to stem the tide of restlessness as witnessed during the#endbadgovernance protest that took place in the country in August, though the one staged in Adamawa state was peaceful, devoid of destruction of properties.
