Nasarawa youths demand peaceful APC gov primaries

Ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections next month, indigenous youth leaders from across Nasarawa State have issued a strong appeal for peaceful conduct. Converging under the banner of the Concerned Nasarawa State Ethnic Youths Group, they implored both national and state party leadership to guarantee a transparent and tranquil primary process. This demand arises from the palpable political tension already building within the state, fueled by supporters of various aspirants vying for the governorship position in 2027.

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This is a veiled threat of political violence and ethnic blackmail. We, the Concerned Nasarawa State Ethnic Youths Group, condemn this in strong terms. No group has the right to intimidate others or preemptively reject the outcome of a democratic primary.

The group's coordinator, Ibrahim Thaddeus Maiyanga, specifically urged all political actors—aspirants, party leaders, and community stakeholders—to cease inflaming political discourse and contributing to a climate of fear. He emphasized that Nasarawa State deserves a political landscape free from scaremongering and intimidation. Maiyanga addressed Governor Abdullahi Sule’s recent endorsement of Senator Ahmed Wadada as his preferred successor, clarifying that it was a personal preference within democratic bounds, not an imposition. He refuted claims that the governor would force any aspirant on the populace, reiterating the expectation of a free, fair, and transparent primary election.

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The demand for an ‘indigenous’ candidate without defining the term is reckless. Every ethnic group in Nasarawa State Including Eggon, Alago, Gwandara, Mada, Migili, Tiv, Hausa, Fulani, and others are all indigenous to various parts of the state. No single group holds a monopoly over ‘indigeneity’.

Furthermore, the Concerned Nasarawa State Ethnic Youths Group strongly condemned a recent press statement by another group, the Forum of National Youth Presidents of Ethnic Nationalities, Nasarawa State Chapter, which rejected the governor's choice and threatened mobilization against perceived injustice. Maiyanga denounced this as a "veiled threat of political violence and ethnic blackmail." He stressed that no single ethnic group holds a monopoly over indigeneity in Nasarawa State, highlighting the diverse representation in the State Assembly as proof of the state's multi-ethnic fabric. The group firmly rejected any attempt to exploit ethnicity for political advantage and vowed not to support individuals or groups engaging in such tactics.

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We reject in strong terms any attempt to weaponise ethnicity for political gain.