Nasarawa State Primaries: You Have Made Your Bed, Now You Must Lie on It

By Abdulkareem Hassan, Lafia

The wave of defections currently rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State has continued to generate heated debates among political stakeholders, party loyalists, and pundits ahead of 227 general elections.

While the ruling party and the state government have sought to downplay the significance of the recent departures, many political analysts argue that the growing dissatisfaction among party members is a direct consequence of the manner in which the party conducted its internal affairs, particularly its primary elections.

According to party’s stalwart, the warning signs were evident long before the primaries took place. A respected stakeholder within the party had reportedly advised the leadership on the need to conduct transparent, inclusive, and credible primaries capable of fostering unity and strengthening party cohesion. Rather than embracing the advice, however, the stakeholder was allegedly subjected to ridicule and accusations of pursuing a personal agenda.

His insistence on free, fair, and credible primaries was interpreted by some party leaders as support for a preferred aspirant. As a result, the recommendation was dismissed, while those advocating internal democracy were branded as interested parties rather than concerned stakeholders seeking the long-term stability of the APC.

Despite the concerns raised, the party proceeded with what many aggrieved members have described as a flawed and predetermined primary process.

The outcome, according to critics, left several loyal party members feeling cheated, marginalized, and betrayed.

For many of those who eventually defected, the decision was not merely about political ambition but about seeking an alternative platform where they could test their popularity through what they considered a more transparent process.

Since the defections began, party leaders and government officials have reportedly embarked on a series of media engagements, press conferences, and public statements aimed at explaining the crisis and assigning blame.

However, critics argue that these efforts have largely focused on scapegoating individuals rather than addressing the root causes of the discontent.

Particularly troubling, they say, is the attempt to blame the very stakeholder who had consistently advocated for fairness and transparency in the party’s internal electoral process.

Pundits noted that it is contradictory to accuse someone of causing a crisis after ignoring his warnings about the consequences of excluding party members from a credible democratic process.

The debate has also reignited discussions about the political relationship between former Nasarawa State Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, and the incumbent governor, Abdullahi Sule.

Supporters of Al-Makura argue that the former governor played a pivotal role in the emergence of Governor Sule and possesses the political experience necessary to offer guidance on party management and electoral strategy.

They contend that if his advice on conducting transparent primaries had been taken seriously, the current wave of defections might have been avoided.

Furthermore, critics dismiss claims that Al-Makura influenced the political decisions of former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, insisting that the former police chief is an accomplished political actor capable of making independent decisions regarding his ambitions and political future.

According to this school of thought, attributing every political development within the APC to Al-Makura is both unfair and misleading. Instead, they argue, party leaders should focus on addressing the grievances of members and rebuilding trust within the party.

As the political landscape in Nasarawa continues to evolve, the APC faces the challenge of managing internal divisions while maintaining its dominance in the state. Whether the party can recover from the fallout of the controversial primaries remains to be seen.

For many observers, however, the lesson is clear: political parties that ignore calls for transparency, inclusiveness, and internal democracy often pay a heavy price.

The current crisis, they argue, is not the result of external sabotage but the consequence of decisions made from within.

In politics, as in life, actions have consequences. Having chosen its path despite repeated warnings, the APC leadership in Nasarawa State may now have little choice but to confront the realities of the outcome.

As the saying goes, you have made your bed, now you must lie on it.