Lafia, Nasarawa – Political tensions are escalating in Nasarawa State as internal divisions within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) emerge ahead of the 2027 general elections. The suspension of Lafia Local Government Chairman, Hon. Mohammad Haliru Arabo, has intensified uncertainty in the state.
The suspension coincides with the redeployment of the former Commissioner of Police and the appointment of a new police chief, moves analysts say reflect deepening power struggles within the APC over the upcoming governorship race.
On Thursday, speaking at the NUJ Press Centre in Lafia, APC chieftain and Turaki of Lafia, Alhaji Abubakar Usman Sandaji, condemned the suspension under the banner of the Nasarawa Council for Protection of Democracy (NACOPOD). He described it as “deeply flawed, political gangsterism, and dangerous to democracy.”
Sandaji criticized the State House of Assembly for acting hastily, saying there was no credible evidence to justify the three-month suspension, which reportedly stems from Arabo’s alleged interference in the impeachment process of the Speaker of the Lafia Legislative Council.
“To suspend an elected official for such claims without proof is not oversight; it is overreach,” Sandaji said, accusing the Assembly of violating Arabo’s right to a fair hearing.
He also condemned the State Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development, Hon. Aminu Muazu Maipata, for recognizing the Deputy Chairman, Hon. Uba Arikya, calling it “an affront to legislative autonomy and a violation of the principle of separation of powers.”
Sandaji alleged the suspension is politically motivated, linking it to Arabo’s open support for former Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu Abubakar, whose rising popularity is believed to have unsettled the current political order.
“We strongly suspect this suspension is part of a calculated attempt to intimidate and weaken allies of this emerging political force ahead of the coming electoral cycle,” he said.
NACOPOD urged the State House of Assembly to reverse the suspension and adhere to due process if there are legitimate investigative concerns. The group also appealed to Governor Abdullahi Sule to prevent the use of democratic institutions for political witch-hunts.
Sandaji concluded: “We call on His Excellency to rise above partisan considerations and urgently intervene to restore constitutional order and peace in Lafia Local Government.” NACOPOD plans to formally communicate its concerns to the Governor, police authorities, the Department of State Services, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.