Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has dismissed the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a significant electoral challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Governor Sule emphasized the APC’s overwhelming institutional strength, noting the party’s control of 31 of Nigeria’s 36 states.
“A party that controls 31 states can’t really be worried about another party that doesn’t control just one state,” Sule stated. He characterized the ADC’s emergence as a new opposition narrative, following previous focus on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), suggesting such shifts are a normal feature of political discourse. “There’s no problem whatsoever with our party,” he added, projecting confidence in the APC’s positioning.
The governor’s comments respond to recent political analyses that have spotlighted the ADC, particularly following internal divisions within the main opposition parties. However, Sule pointed to the APC’s sustained governing presence across most of the country as a fundamental electoral advantage that diminishes the impact of any single opposition group.
In a separate but concurrently discussed policy matter, Governor Sule strongly advocated for the establishment of state police forces as a critical measure to address Nigeria’s persistent security challenges. He revealed that a consensus in favor of state policing was reached at the National Executive Council (NEC) level, with 35 of 37 state governors supporting the move.
“I think every state believes strongly in state policing and Nasarawa is one of them,” Sule affirmed. He clarified that the initiative is now in a procedural phase, requiring constitutional amendments and legislation from both the National Assembly and all state assemblies. The governor framed decentralized policing as a necessary adaptation, arguing that localized security structures would respond more effectively to community-specific threats than the current centrally managed Nigeria Police Force.
While acknowledging the severity of nationwide insecurity—including issues of kidnapping, banditry, and separatist agitations—Sule positioned state policing as a feasible, widely endorsed solution awaiting only legislative action. His dual remarks reflect a strategic focus: reinforcing the ruling party’s perceived electoral invincibility while championing a major governance reform with cross-party gubernatorial support.
The push for state policing remains a contentious constitutional issue in Nigeria, with critics citing risks of fragmentation and abuse. However, proponents argue it would enhance accountability and responsiveness. As the 2027 election cycle approaches, the APC’s dominance and the ongoing debate over security decentralization are likely to remain central themes in the nation’s political dialogue.
