From DAVID MICHAEL, Lafia
The Nasarawa State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Aliyu Bello, has downplayed recent rallies by members who defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), insisting that the ruling party remains politically strong and unbeatable ahead of the 2027 elections in the state.
Addressing a gathering of APC stakeholders in Lafia, Bello said the APC was politically “content” and self-sufficient despite the recent defections of supporters and former Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu Abubakar, who has yet to announce his new political platform.
“Politically, we have contentment. What is meant by contentment is that we have political satisfaction and self-sufficiency,” Bello told supporters, opening his speech with repeated “Alhamdulillah” chants.
The APC chairman, who led party faithful to Unguwar Gayam in Lafia, the same area where SDP supporters had earlier burnt brooms, criticised SDP members for allegedly burning brooms, the APC’s symbol, and engaging in what he described as “chaos and disruptions.”
“Those other people insulted us, insulted our leaders, insulted the elders of this neighbourhood. But not a single person returned the insults,” he said.
“Because they lack political satisfaction and maturity, they have resorted to chaos and disruptions today.”
He said the ruling party was committed to maintaining peace because it was a victorious party.
Bello dismissed attempts to undermine the APC’s electoral prospects, declaring: “Even if you spend a thousand years practising politics this way, by Allah, you cannot stop the dawn from breaking.”
The chairman urged party members to remain vigilant during elections and ensure that votes were properly counted from polling units through to the final collation stage.
He noted that electoral processes had become more transparent with the introduction of technology.
“This era is not 2011, a time when there were no card readers or BVAS,” he said.
Acknowledging resource constraints, Bello said the APC’s greatest strength was its unity and faith.
“We accept that we do not have money. We accept that we do not have anything. But do you know what we do have? We have Allah! And we also have unity and brotherhood!” he said.
He warned members against engaging in insults and tribal sentiments, urging women to safeguard the future of their children and assuring supporters that APC leaders would remain accessible irrespective of electoral outcomes.
“For those who initiated this whole situation… that is exactly what the people who oppose peace are trying to do to themselves,” he said, cautioning against self-destructive politics.
In his closing remarks, translated from an audio recording, Bello said the APC would respond to SDP rallies with voter education rather than verbal attacks.
“Wherever they hold a rally of insults, we will not hold a rally of insults. We will hold a rally to enlighten the people,” he said.
He added that the APC’s candidate was “the genuine one” and expressed confidence that the party would emerge victorious in the next election.
Earlier, defectors from the APC in Nasarawa State said they were mobilising for rallies that would include the symbolic burning of brooms to signal their departure from the ruling party.
Yahuza Musa Gayam, who is leading the mobilisation, said SDP supporters were organising ward-level meetings to protest what they described as the APC’s handling of party affairs in the state.
According to the defectors, the gathering was convened because of what they termed a lack of concern for party members within the APC.
The speakers alleged that the party denied victory to former Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, in an internal contest despite his alleged success at the ward level.
“Every ward is showing its anger over what the APC did to people because the APC has cheated us… it cheated us in politics in Nasarawa State,” they said.
The group likened the development to an earlier political break with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“Just like when the PDP once cheated us, we burned the umbrella, we withdrew from the umbrella. That is why now with the APC, we are also going to leave it,” they said.
They also called on youth to assist in cleaning rally venues ahead of the planned events.
“Our younger ones should come tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, to sweep here. So, if they sweep, they are also our younger ones. Let them sweep it,” one speaker instructed.
When asked about their current political affiliation, the speaker confirmed: “As for us, the people have now moved to the SDP.”