2027: NDE DG under tense pressure to contest governorship election in Nasarawa

By David Odama

The newly appointed Director General of the National Directorate of Employment, NDE, Sas Agara has come under tensed pressure to join the race for the governorship seat in Nasarawa state.

This is as the coalition of youth and women’s groups under the auspices of the Nasarawa Patriotic Youth Alliance have came out in their thousands urging the former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Silas Agara, to join the race for the 2027 Governorship election.

The call was made by the Keffi Local Government Coordinator of the alliance, Mallam Hamza Abubakar, during a press briefing held at the conclusion of their maiden meeting in Keffi.

It would be recalled that with less than two years to the 2027 general elections, political activities in Nasarawa State is taking a new diamention characterized by intensified consultations, defections, and strategic realignments across party lines.

Political and ethnic groups across the state have been mobilising support, encouraging their preferred candidates to join the race for various elective positions.

In Keffi, the Local Government Coordinator of the Nasarawa Patriotic Youth Alliance — a coalition of youth and women’s groups — Mallam Abubakar Hamza addressed journalists, disclosing that a growing number of young people across the state are rallying behind former Deputy Governor, Mr. Silas Agara, to contest the 2027 governorship seat.

According to Hamza, since Agara’s early rise in public service as the youngest commissioner in 2003, he has remained committed to youth development and empowerment. From his time as commissioner to his tenure as Deputy Governor between 2015 and 2019, he consistently represented the interests of young people, earning a reputation as a steady advocate for inclusive governance.

“The group has embarked on broad consultations across the five local government areas of the Nasarawa South Senatorial Zone to convince Agara to join the race”, Hamza stated.

He described Agara’s potential candidacy as a turning point for the state, citing his leadership qualities and grassroots appeal, adding that as the current Director General of the National Directorate of Employment, Agara has been consistent in upholding the values of unity and growth within the All Progressives Congress (APC),

According to the coalition, his experience and vision position him as the right choice for Nasarawa’s future.

Women leaders within the coalition, including Hajiya Laraba Sani and Mrs. Eunice Peter, echoed the call for Agara’s candidacy. They emphasised the need for responsive and empathetic leadership, urging him to heed the appeal in the interest of ordinary citizens.

They described Agara as a leader who understands the daily struggles of the people and possesses a track record of delivering results. In their view, Nasarawa needs someone with both vision and compassion — qualities they believe Agara embodies.

The coalition also called on political party leaders to ensure that the forthcoming primaries are transparent and truly democratic. They stressed the importance of a level playing field that allows the most credible and widely accepted candidate to emerge.