By Martha Omafu
A group under the aegis of Eggon Political Forum has adopted Mr David Ombugadu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, as its consensus candidate for the 2027 Nasarawa State governorship election.
The forum announced the decision in a communiqué issued after its meeting on Wednesday in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area, following consultations and assessment of six governorship candidates of Eggon extraction.
The communiqué was by its Chairman, Alhaji Umaru Gwamna, and Secretary, Mr Istifanus Dennis-Abaku.
The forum described itself as a non-partisan body committed to promoting political unity and sanity among the Eggon people, saying its consultations involved stakeholders across the three senatorial zones, Eggon people in the diaspora and representatives of other ethnic nationalities in the state.
The forum said youth, women and elders’ groups were also consulted as part of the process leading to the adoption of a candidate.
The forum said it in arriving at its decision, it considered party stability, grassroots presence, popularity, party structures, previous records in public office, political experience and candidates’ manifestos.
According to the forum, the six candidates assessed are Mr Shuaibu Umaru- Kubi of Accord Party, retired Gen. Nuhu Angbazo of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr Chris Mamman of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Mr Ibrahim Kassimu-Aboh of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr David Ombugadu of the PDP and Mr John Tanko-Kigbu of the Young Progressive Party (YPP).
The forum said its assessment showed that one of the candidates was “overwhelmingly considered suitable” to represent the aspirations and interests of the Eggon people in the 2027 governorship election.
“In the light of the above, we wish to formally declare that one of our sons, Dr David Emmanuel-Ombugadu of PDP, is hereby declared to be the consensus candidate of the Eggon people,” the communiqué stated.
The forum appealed to the five other candidates to support Ombugadu, saying unity of purpose was necessary to achieve the collective political aspiration of the Eggon people.
It also appealed to other ethnic nationalities in Nasarawa to align with the Eggon people in supporting Ombugadu’s candidature.
The forum urged Eggon people across the state to embrace the decision, acknowledging that individuals could have divergent political interests but insisting that the collective interest of the people should take precedence.
However, Mr Friday Haruna, President of the Eggon Youth Nationwide and Eggon Cultural Development Association (ECDA), who witnessed the meeting, said wider Eggon stakeholders were still expected to harmonise their position on the 2027 governorship election.
Haruna said he was invited to witness the proceedings and understand the outcome, adding that while he acknowledged the forum’s decision, the broader Eggon stakeholder process had not been concluded.
He said the various stakeholders would still meet to harmonise the different positions before announcing what would become the collective political direction of the Eggon people.
Haruna urged governorship candidates seeking the support of the people to demonstrate their acceptability among the electorate by effectively presenting their programmes and personalities to voters.
