Te committee has four weeks to assess aspirants, engage political stakeholders and identify candidates with strong commitments to students and youth development.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Nasarawa State Stakeholders Forum, has inaugurated its 2027 Governorship and Senate Engagement Committee to assess prospective candidates and recommend those considered suitable for the consideration of its members ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The inauguration was performed by the NANS National Treasurer, Comrade Asmau Idris Omeza, at the New Keffi Hotel in Nasarawa State.
The event, which attracted student leaders and other stakeholders, was held under the theme: “Bridging the Gap Between Political Elites in Nasarawa State and the Largest Voting Bloc of Students and Youths, Irrespective of Political Party.”
The initiative is designed to establish a platform for constructive engagement between political aspirants and the student community, with particular emphasis on education, youth development, employment opportunities, student welfare and good governance.
Speaking during the inauguration, Omeza charged committee members to approach the assignment with sincerity, objectivity, transparency and accountability.
She stressed that prospective candidates should be assessed based on their competence, leadership qualities, track records and willingness to address the concerns and aspirations of students and young people across the state.
Omeza disclosed that the committee had four weeks to complete its assignment, adding that it was expected to serve as a bridge between political stakeholders and the student population by facilitating dialogue on policies and programmes capable of improving students’ welfare and youth development.
In his inaugural address, the committee’s chairman, Comrade Shu’aibu Mohammed Oshoke, pledged to discharge the responsibility diligently and in the best interests of the student community.
Oshoke maintained that students in Nasarawa State constitute an important constituency whose participation could influence the outcome of the 2027 general elections.
He cited figures indicating that the state has more than 158,000 students across various tertiary institutions, noting that their collective electoral influence could be significant if properly organised and mobilised.
The chairman assured stakeholders that the committee would remain non-partisan and engage all governorship and senatorial aspirants on equal terms, irrespective of their political affiliations.
According to him, the committee would evaluate candidates’ programmes, policy proposals and commitments to education, student welfare, job creation, support for small businesses and youth inclusion.
He explained that the exercise was intended to identify candidates whose policies and leadership capacity align with the needs and aspirations of students and the wider population of Nasarawa State.
Oshoke also called on candidates of all political parties to embrace an open-door policy by granting the committee opportunities to present its charter of student demands and discuss issues affecting the student community.
As part of its activities, the committee is expected to commence campus tours, stakeholder consultations and direct engagements with political aspirants across the state’s 13 local government areas.
The chairman further urged eligible students to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), stressing the importance of active participation in the electoral process.
The initiative marks an effort by the NANS Nasarawa State Stakeholders Forum to strengthen student participation in democratic processes and ensure that issues affecting education and youth development feature prominently in political discussions ahead of the 2027 elections.