By Yahaya Idris
A political heavyweight in Nasarawa State, renowned political strategist and immediate past Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Alhaji Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, has travelled to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform the lesser Hajj, also known as Umrah.
The former Speaker, who is also the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Federal Polytechnic Damaturu, Yobe State, remains one of the influential political figures whose political calculations and alignments continue to attract attention across Nasarawa State.
Popularly regarded in political circles as a giant killer, Balarabe Abdullahi has over the years established himself as a formidable political actor whose relevance goes beyond his former position as the number one lawmaker in the state.
It would be recalled that the Nasarawa political stalwart was among the prominent leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) appointed and inaugurated into the party’s Presidential Campaign Council by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The APC chieftain has consistently demonstrated his political direction through various engagements, reaffirming his support for President Tinubu’s re-election bid and the aspiration of Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada to become the next Governor of Nasarawa State.
His political support also extends to Dr. Shuaib Faisal for the Nasarawa West Senatorial District seat, Hon. Mohammed Yerima Albasheer for the Nasarawa/Toto Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives, and Hon. Muhammed Muntaka for the Umaisha/Ugya State Constituency seat in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly.
These political alignments place Balarabe Abdullahi among the notable stakeholders whose positions could feature prominently in the unfolding political permutations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While the former Speaker is currently away in Saudi Arabia to fulfil the spiritual obligation of Umrah, his political relevance at home continues to remain a subject of interest among party loyalists, supporters and political observers.
As the political atmosphere gradually gathers momentum ahead of 2027, the activities, alliances and endorsements of influential figures such as Balarabe Abdullahi are expected to remain part of the wider conversation shaping Nasarawa State’s political future.