PDP Chieftain: Political Brand Behind 2027 Governorship Battle in Nasarawa By Ogbu Onah, Abuja

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State, Abuga Ovie, has described David Emmanuel Ombugadu as a major political force in the state, saying his influence is rooted in a political brand built over the years.

Ovie, who spoke in an interview, alleged that efforts to weaken Ombugadu's political influence ahead of the 2027 election had intensified, including attempts to introduce another politician bearing the Ombugadu surname into the political equation.

He said the move was aimed at diluting the political identity associated with the PDP figure.

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Ombugadu is a brand, not a title. People are not fools. They know their own. You cannot simply bring another person bearing the name and expect the people to forget the political identity Emmanuel built over the years.”

The PDP chieftain further alleged that a former governor was backing a political associate, a former Accountant-General of Nasarawa State, to destabilise the party and influence its choice of candidate for the 2027 election.

According to him, the alleged strategy was to weaken the PDP by ensuring that it fields a less competitive candidate, thereby giving an advantage to the former governor's preferred candidate.

“The plan, as we understand it, is to destabilise the PDP and make sure the party presents a weak candidate. But those efforts have proved abortive because the national leadership of the PDP stood its ground,” Ovie said.

He said the decision of the PDP national leadership to retain its preferred candidate demonstrated confidence in the candidate's political strength and grassroots acceptance.

Ovie likened Ombugadu's political experience to the biblical story of David, saying he had remained focused despite opposition from individuals close to him.

He urged political parties to resolve their internal differences and focus on presenting credible programmes to the electorate instead of attempting to frustrate individual politicians.

“Let everybody bring their blueprint before the people and explain what they intend to do for Nasarawa State,” he said.

Ovie maintained that the 2027 election should be centred on ideas, programmes and the future of Nasarawa State rather than attempts to manipulate political structures or undermine politicians with established grassroots support.

He also urged voters, particularly members of the Eggon community, to remain politically vigilant and base their choices on the candidates and programmes they consider capable of addressing the state's challenges.