2027: Former Nasarawa Speaker Balarabe Breaks Silence, Declares Support for Wadada, Albashir
The immediate past Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, has publicly declared his political stance ahead of the 2027 general elections, throwing his weight behind Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada’s governorship ambition and the candidature of Hon. Muhammed Yarima Albashir for the Nasarawa/Toto Federal Constituency seat.
Balarabe made his position known on Sunday during a visit to his hometown of Umaisha in Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, where he had gone to condole with families over recent bereavements.
Addressing a gathering of supporters at his residence, the former Speaker broke his silence on the unfolding political realignments within the All Progressives Congress (APC), stating that he would fully support Senator Wadada’s governorship bid in 2027.
The former lawmaker, who currently serves as Chairman of the Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic Damaturu, Yobe State, also endorsed Hon. Muhammed Yarima Albashir as the APC candidate for the Nasarawa/Toto Federal Constituency seat.
However, in a move that surprised many of his supporters, Balarabe openly declared that he would not support the APC candidate for the Umaisha/Ugya State Constituency seat, distancing himself from the candidature of Hon. Sa’ad.
Explaining the circumstances that led to the misunderstanding between him and some party stakeholders, Balarabe recalled a statement he made at the palace of the Ohimegye of Opanda before the party primaries.
According to him, some stakeholders took offence when he called for prayers for Senator Wadada, interpreting the gesture as an endorsement of the governorship aspirant.
“My first and recent offence with some of our stakeholders was the statement I made at the Ohimegye’s palace in Umaisha before the APC primaries when I called for prayers for Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada,” he said.
“They accused me of campaigning for Wadada. I was surprised by their reaction. This is politics. Do I not have the right to support a candidate of my choice? Am I anybody’s slave? Do I look like a slave to anyone?” he queried.
The former Speaker insisted that his support for candidates is always based on conviction and the perceived benefits they would bring to the people.
“Any candidate you see me supporting and asking my people to support, I have my reasons. We are going to support Wadada. We are going to support Albashir. But I want to state clearly and loudly that Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi will not support Sa’ad in the next election,” he declared.
Balarabe noted that he had deliberately remained silent on political matters in recent months because he believed there was an appropriate time to speak.
He described Senator Wadada as a leader who has consistently stood for the interests of his constituents, citing his role in lobbying for the establishment of critical institutions and infrastructure in the area.
According to him, Wadada remains the first senator from the zone to facilitate major developmental projects such as the establishment of a tertiary institution and a naval base in the constituency.
He argued that these achievements justified his decision to support the senator’s governorship aspiration, expressing confidence that Wadada would deliver even greater dividends of democracy if elected governor.
“I will never betray my people. I will continue to stand with them and support leaders who have demonstrated commitment to their welfare and development,” Balarabe stated
Balarabe Abdullahi represented Umaisha/Ugya Constituency in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly on the platform of the APC and made history as the first Speaker in the state to serve three consecutive terms.
He first emerged Speaker of the Fifth Assembly in June 2015, retained the position in the Sixth Assembly in June 2019, and was re-elected Speaker of the Seventh Assembly in 2023 before his tenure ended on November 28, 2023.
