The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reportedly listed former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar Adamu as the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate for Nasarawa State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The development comes months after Adamu resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) following his defeat in the party’s governorship primary. He subsequently joined the SDP to continue his ambition of becoming governor of Nasarawa State.
According to a report published by Legit.ng on October 10, 2026, INEC included Adamu on its list of candidates for the forthcoming governorship election. The report linked the development to a Supreme Court ruling on provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 governing political party membership registers and candidate nomination.
Why Mohammed Adamu Left the APC
Adamu resigned from the APC in May 2026 after losing the party’s governorship primary to Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada.
In his resignation letter, the former police chief raised concerns about the conduct of the primary, alleging that the process did not meet the standards of fairness and internal democracy he expected.
He subsequently pursued his governorship ambition through the SDP, where he emerged as the party’s candidate after a subsequent nomination process.
His move highlighted disagreements within the APC in Nasarawa State over the choice of its candidate for the 2027 election.
Supreme Court Ruling and Candidate Eligibility
The development comes amid legal questions surrounding political party membership registers and nomination procedures.
On September 24, 2026, the Supreme Court upheld provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 relating to the submission of party membership registers and the nomination of candidates. The ruling restored provisions that had previously been invalidated by the Court of Appeal.
The provisions include requirements governing the submission of membership registers to INEC and the eligibility of party members to participate in primaries.
The judgment prompted questions about the status of some candidates ahead of the 2027 elections, including Adamu. His campaign organisation previously maintained that the ruling did not invalidate the SDP register or the process through which he emerged as the party’s candidate.
What INEC’s Reported Decision Means
INEC’s reported listing of Adamu as the SDP candidate indicates that his name has been included in the commission’s candidate records, according to the latest report.
The development follows earlier uncertainty about his status. In September, Premium Times reported that INEC was reviewing the implications of the Supreme Court judgment and that the commission intended to obtain and study the certified judgment before determining its next steps.
The reported listing is significant for the SDP’s preparations in Nasarawa State, where Adamu is seeking to challenge candidates from other political parties.
However, being recognised as a candidate does not amount to winning the election. The governorship poll is scheduled for 2027, and the outcome will be determined by voters and the official electoral process.
For now, Adamu’s political journey has moved from his departure from the APC to a reported place on the SDP ticket, leaving the former police chief preparing for the next stage of his governorship campaign.