Crisis rocks Nasarawa APC over Wike’s Rainbow Coalition

The Nasarawa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress is facing internal criticism after including a rival party’s candidate in its governorship campaign council. Kabiru Dallah, the Zenith Labour Party candidate for Lafia/Obi Federal Constituency, was listed as a member of the APC’s Youth Mobilisation Committee.

His inclusion prompted questions from party members and allegations of an undisclosed political arrangement with the Rainbow Coalition associated with Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike. The APC’s state secretary, Yarus Daguza, denied any such alliance and said Dallah’s name had been removed from the council. “We have deleted the name of Kabiru Dallah. Nasarawa APC is not a member of the Rainbow Coalition,” Daguza said.

However, some members argued that the initial appointment required further explanation and called on Governor Abdullahi Sule, the party’s leader in the state, to withdraw the list and constitute a new council. They said a broader consultation process would restore confidence, accommodate stakeholders and strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The dispute has reportedly contributed to the reluctance of some supporters of unsuccessful governorship aspirants to participate in the campaign council. Those supporters accused the party leadership and its governorship candidate, Senator Ahmed Wadada, of failing to accommodate their interests.

Jacob Peters, a party member from Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area, described the list as defective and alleged that it contained errors and unsuitable appointments. “Some people are wrongly placed, while some individuals have no business in the campaign council,” he said.

Peters added that some members suspected that people working against the APC’s interests had entered its leadership structure to undermine its electoral chances. The report did not establish those allegations. Other members complained that too few party figures were actively campaigning for President Bola Tinubu and other APC candidates.

Shugaba Bello of Zanwa Ward in Lafia also urged Governor Sule to replace the disputed list and restructure the council to improve its effectiveness. Sadau Ahmed, from Nasarawa Central Constituency, alleged that Wadada had decided before the list was released to retain members of his former senatorial campaign team in an effort to avoid internal disagreements.

Kefas Dangana, a party member from Obi Local Government Area, questioned why a candidate from another party had been included when the APC had its own candidate for the same constituency. “The APC also has a candidate for that constituency, yet the party leadership opted to include the name of another party’s candidate as a member of its campaign council,” he said.

Governor Sule chairs the campaign council’s Advisory Committee, which also includes former governors and other senior party stakeholders. Despite the complaints, Daguza maintained that the APC had no political understanding with Wike’s Rainbow Coalition.

Meanwhile, Samuel Jacob, from Kuru in Toto Local Government Area, urged the state leadership to demonstrate greater commitment to all APC candidates. “The party must rise above selfish interests and ensure the success of all, not just a few people,” he said. Jacob also raised concerns about the treatment of Dr Faisal Shuaib, the party’s senatorial candidate in Nasarawa West.

He alleged that some supporters had been told the state leadership preferred a candidate from another party. “We are waiting for the party to clarify this,” he said. The complaints highlight divisions within the Nasarawa APC as it prepares for the 2027 elections, with aggrieved members seeking explanations over appointments and assurances of support for the party’s candidates.