The delegates will definitely need to make a sound political decision on who will effectively wrest power from the incumbent, Governor Abdullahi Alhaji Sule of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC who is gunning for his second term.
The choice is not an easy one as alot of factors and stacking political realities are before the PDP delegates in the first instance and Nasarawa electorate at large. The PDP delegates are under intense political pressure from it's critical stakeholders, especially, the suffering masses whose anger over perennial insecurity, unemployement, constant delay in the payment of workers'salaries and the high rise in essential goods and services begging for attention.
As the Indepent National Electoral Commission, INEC deadline for nomination of candidates gets closer, the choices are narrowed down to four contenders.
The recent withdrawal from the race by the former Minister of State, FCT, Sen Solomon Ewuga, the PDP is beaming it's searchlight on the remaining four gubernatorial aspirants including it's 2019 flagbearer, Hon. David Ombugadu, returnee ex Information Minister, Hon. Labaran Maku, the immediate past General Officer Commanding, GOC 3rd Division of the Nigeria Army, Jos, Major Gen Nuhu Ekpaji Angbszo (rtd) and a former senator from the Southern Senatorial Zone, Sen. Suleiman Asonya Adokwe respectively.
While Hon. Ombugadu, Hon. Maku and Maj Gen Angbszo are from the Eggon ethnic nationality from Akwanga zone where Gov Sule hails from while Sen Adokwe is from Lafia zone.
Having been too long out of government, the nagging issues before the Nasarawa PDP bother on funding, unity, consistency in the party, acceptability and marketability. Apart from having a candidate whose deep pocket can finance it's campaign, a mature one whose personality could stand the test of voters, litigations during and after the Governorship election is a sure factor delegates may be looking at.
Hon. David Ombugadu:
Hon. Ombugadu also known as 'Yaro Maiwanka' is a two terms member of the House of Representatives representing the zone (Nasarawa Eggon/Akwanga/Wamba). He was able to defeat his political godfather (Sen Solomon Ewuga) financially in the 2019 PDP guber primary but failed to scale through the secondary election.
Feelers from the PDP in his Nasarawa Eggon LGA indicate this financial connection from the Niger Delta region where he schooled and worked before returning home to run for election may have been puntured. The PDP is believe to have begged Gov Nyisom Wike of Rivers State to withheld sponsoring any aspirant from Nasarawa state until a consensus candidate was arrived at. Both the zonal and national leadership of the party are in agreement on this issue.
Ombugadu was first sponsored by the former FCT Minister of State, Sen Solomon Ewuga in 2011 under the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC before returning into the PDP in 2015 along with his political godfather.
However, the popularity that earned him the PDP's governorship ticket in 2019 has since diminished.
His youthful exuberance, political arrogance and internal division created between him and another kinsman, Hon. Maku of APGA were reasons why the PDP lost to Engr Abdullahi Sule in 2019.
Hon. Labaran Maku:
Maku is reputable in Nasarawa state as the only PDP leader who has benefitted from the very beginning to when he dumped the party to APGA in 2015.
After losing the PDP ticket to Dr Yusuf Agabi, Maku hurriedly rushed to pick up APGA ticket to challenge Gov Tanko Almakura and the PDP in 2015. He lost twice without any single seat in the state Assembly and local government council.
He did same in 2019 even against all pleas for him to return back home.
A PDP source who discribed Maku as an ingrate, recall that "Maku was appointed a Commissioner for Information by the PDP between 1999-2003, Deputy Governor from 2003-2007 and minister under the ex President Goodluck Jonathan from 2008-2015 respectively".
While some PDP leaders believe his departure from it's fold was a show of ungratefulness on his part, others believe his return could add value in unseating the ruling APC from Shendam Road come 2023.
The Ombugadu and Sen Solomon Ewuga's camps may however prefer working with the new comer, Maj Gen Angbszo than pitch tenth with Maku's radical but unwitting political rascality.
Maj Gen Nuhu Ekpaji Angbazo(rtd):
General Angbszo may not be a new comer into Nasarawa state politics as wrongly been discussed. His royal background and parental affiliation could have exposed him to politics as latest findings have revealed.
To some PDP critical stakeholders, the only survivor of the 2006 Benue military plane crash retired general may be a God sent for the rescue mission in Nasarawa state as he is the only genuine alternative the PDP can push into the race in 2023 with less bargages.
The withdrawal from the race by Sen Ewuga is seen as a huge blessing to Angbszo as his camp is fast courting supporters towards boosting his governorship ambition.
From series of midnight meetings, retired generals from the Middle Belt are cueing into his aspiration with possibilities of funds donation since his public declaration.
From a reputable family background of the Aren Eggon traditional council, a consensus deal is as good idea but his deep pocket status is another key factor delegates may consider.
His father, Dr Bala Angbszo, the Aren Eggon, was himself the treasurer of the defunct Nigeria People's Party, NPP that ruled the then old Plateau State under late Gov Solomon Lar between 1979-1983.
Maj Gen Angbszo is said to be the only contender who has no single political baggage against other politicans either in his opposition PDP or elsewhere.
The APC also fears that his emergence might cause political upheavals Gov Sule might find it difficult to contend with especially in a seeming bitter rivalry that is still boiling following the defeat of the governor's godfather, Sen Almakura by Sen Abdullahi Adamu from the APC national chairmanship.
Angbazo's security and technical know how may be a huge asset in tackling the insecurity in the state once elected.
On a fair deal scenario, even the duo of Labaran Maku and David Ombugadu could prefer the general than either of them for the sole reason that they have each constituted themselves to arch political rivalries which caused the PDP's victory in the past.
Sen. Suleiman Adokwe:
Sen Adokwe's chances are brighter where the Eggon politicans failed to put their acts together. His quieessential defeaning political calculations are next to none in the current PDP arrangements in the state.
A trained lawyer, an accomplished bureacrat who rose to his civil service peak as a Permanent Secretary in 2003 and Commissioner under the ex Gov Abdullahi Adamu was elected senator in 2007-2019.
Adokwe also known as 'Saa' literally means luck is known for surprises.
He has the capacity to outstage his political adversaries.
Sen Adokwe's only quagmire is that he is from the Southern Senatorial Zone where the Governorship seat was tested for three terms under his kindred, the late Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma (2007-2011) and the immediate past Gov Tanko Almakura from 2011-2019.
With the traditional espirit de cor of the military, Maj Gen Angbszo may explore his political godfather, Sen David Mark to mount severe pressure on Adokwe to step down for the solid choice team.
© Hyperlibber
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