By Francis Nansak,  Lafia

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Nasarawa State is facing internal pressure over its choice of running mate for the 2027 governorship election.

The party has settled for retired Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, as its governorship candidate,but however, raised dissatisfaction over the  proposed choice of Engr. Laurence, a Gwandara man from Kokona Local Government Area, as deputy governorship candidate.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Nasarawa SDP Concern Group on Wednesday. According to the group, the choice of Laurence is a political miscalculation that could cost the party at the polls.

The group argued that there is an over-concentration of political opportunities in the hands of Gwandara people across different parties in the state, listing: Abu Giza – Zenith Labour Party,Governorship, Danbala Almakura for APC  House of Reps, Daniel Ogazi APC for House of Reps, Danlami Awaje a PDP House of Reps, And now Engr. Laurence as  SDP Deputy Governor of the SDP.

The Concern Group questioned whether the Gwandara voting strength can be shared across multiple parties without weakening the bloc. It noted that in a governorship contest, Gwandara voters would be divided between supporting Abu Giza for governor and Laurence for deputy governor, a scenario that would weaken the value of votes for the SDP.

The group therefore urged the SDP leadership and the Director-General of the campaign to reconsider and pick a running mate from Karu Local Government Area in Nasarawa West Senatorial District.

Their argument is based on numerical strength and strategic balance. According to the statement, Karu alone can deliver bulk votes for the SDP, and its voting population is about three times the combined tribal votes being calculated elsewhere.

The group further argued that Karu has already been denied both the House of Representatives and Senate tickets, which were given to Keffi, making the deputy governorship slot non-negotiable for Karu.

“The best move for SDP is to pick a popular Christian stakeholder from Karu either a former House member, former Chairmen, commissioners, special advisers or business person who can match Gaza’s structure polling unit by polling unit,” the statement said.

It added that if wider inclusivity is considered, other large blocs in Nasarawa West such as the Gbagyi in Karu, Nasarawa and Toto, Mada in Kokona, Akwanga and Karu, and Koro in Karu, Lafia and Obi should be considered.

The group also claimed that the SDP had consistently pressured Gaza to accept the position of deputy governor but he refused because he knows Karu will give him bulk votes.

While noting that competence, capacity, experience and religious balance supersede tribe, the group stressed that political calculation cannot be ignored in a diverse state like Nasarawa.

It concluded that giving the deputy slot to Kokona based on the Gwandara tribe factor, instead of political strength and strategic balance which favours Karu, reduces the credibility and strength of the SDP ticket.