Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
Dr. Fatima Abdullahi, the only female aspirant in the Nasarawa State Governorship race, has officially declared her intention to contest the 2027 election.
She made the declaration while submitting her Nomination and Expression of Interest forms, stating that her ambition is to lead the state as Governor.
“I am a gubernatorial aspirant for Nasarawa State. I am here to submit my form for the position of governor,” she said.
Responding to questions about the presence of other strong contenders in the race, including former Security Chief and serving politicians, Dr. Fatima expressed confidence in her chances.
“I am very confident that I will win. It is not about going far in the race, it is about winning,” she said, adding that she also considers herself a strong contender among the so-called political heavyweights.
Dr. Fatima said she is bringing nearly 20 years of private sector experience into politics, which she believes gives her an edge in leadership and governance.
She also highlighted the importance of women’s participation in leadership, noting that since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, no woman has served as Governor in any state despite women making up a significant portion of the electorate.
According to her, her candidacy is aimed at addressing that gap while also improving governance outcomes in Nasarawa State.
She said her campaign would focus on addressing challenges in key sectors such as healthcare, education, and human capital development.
Dr. Fatima noted that while past administrations have made efforts, there are still significant gaps across the state’s 13 local government areas that need to be addressed.
On the mode of party primaries, she expressed support for direct primaries, describing it as the most suitable option given the number of aspirants in the race.
She said this method would allow for a fairer and more transparent selection process within the party.
Reacting to concerns about possible endorsements within the party, Dr. Fatima acknowledged that political leaders may have preferences but insisted that the process must remain free and fair.
She said her campaign team is committed to ensuring transparency and close monitoring of the electoral process leading up to the primaries.
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