BY EMMA PETER, ABUJA
The Deputy Governorship Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Nasarawa State, Hon. Chief Danjuma Dauda Shazhimi, has expressed confidence in his party’s chances of winning the 2027 governorship election and other elective positions in the state, declaring that Nasarawa will be a difficult battleground for rival parties.
Shazhimi, who spoke with journalists in Abuja during the inauguration of the NDC National Campaign Council and the commissioning of the party’s new national secretariat, said the political atmosphere ahead of the 2027 general elections suggested that Nigerians were already preparing for a major political contest.
He described the growing political activities across the country as a sign that the 2027 elections were drawing closer, expressing optimism that the NDC would consolidate its support base and translate it into electoral victories in Nasarawa State.
“Honestly, I feel that 2027 is already here. If you look at the atmosphere in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, you can see the excitement. It is as if even the trees are already jubilating,” he said.
The NDC chieftain said the party was determined to challenge its rivals despite what he described as political noise from opposition parties, insisting that the prevailing economic difficulties facing Nigerians could influence voters’ decisions in the next general elections.
According to him, issues such as hunger and the hardship experienced by citizens have become important considerations in assessing the performance of the current administration and the promises being made by political parties.
He questioned the appeal of calls to renew hope, arguing that Nigerians would want to see tangible improvements in their lives rather than political slogans.
“It is unfortunate that some political parties talk about renewing hope when Nigerians are still grappling with hunger and other economic challenges. The question is: what hope are we going to renew when, after more than three and a half to four years, there is little to show for it?” he asked.
Shazhimi maintained that the NDC was positioning itself as an alternative for Nigerians seeking a different political direction, adding that the party was confident of gaining support as campaigns for the 2027 elections gather momentum.
Turning to Nasarawa State, the deputy governorship candidate said his party was not intimidated by the political activities of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and other parties seeking to control the state.
He acknowledged the growing political competition in Nasarawa but insisted that the NDC remained confident of its chances, citing the performance of Peter Obi in the state during the 2023 presidential election as a source of encouragement for the party.
“We in the NDC are not intimidated by the noise from other political parties, including the APC, the SDP and others. There is a lot of political noise in Nasarawa State, but we have seen this kind of situation before,” he said.
“Look at what happened in 2023. Our presidential candidate, His Excellency Peter Obi, won Nasarawa State under the Labour Party. We believe that the same political support can be mobilised again, and we are confident that the NDC can win the governorship election and other legislative seats in 2027.”
Shazhimi’s remarks point to the NDC’s strategy of building on the support Obi attracted in Nasarawa during the 2023 presidential election as the party prepares for the next electoral cycle.
However, translating that support into a governorship victory will require the party to build a strong state-level organisation, mobilise voters across the state’s local government areas and compete effectively against established political structures.
The NDC deputy governorship candidate also expressed confidence that the party would make a strong showing in elections for the National Assembly and other legislative positions, beyond its ambition of winning the Nasarawa State Government House.
His comments came as the NDC intensified its preparations for the 2027 general elections with a series of activities in Abuja, including a meeting of its National Executive Committee, the commissioning of its new national secretariat in Jabi, and the inauguration of its National Campaign Council.
The programme, held on Monday, October 26, also featured the presentation of Certificates of Return to the party’s candidates and a dinner aimed at strengthening cooperation among its political leaders and flag bearers ahead of the elections.
The inauguration of the campaign council marked another step in the party’s preparations to coordinate its presidential, governorship and legislative campaigns ahead of the 2027 polls.
For Shazhimi and the NDC leadership in Nasarawa, the immediate challenge will be to convert their confidence into a formidable grassroots campaign capable of winning over voters across the state.
While the deputy governorship candidate remained optimistic about the party’s prospects, the eventual outcome will depend on the NDC’s organisation, candidate appeal, campaign strategy and ability to persuade voters that it offers a credible alternative.
Shazhimi, who hails from Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, reaffirmed his confidence in the party’s electoral prospects, insisting that the NDC was ready to compete for the state’s highest political office and other elective positions in 2027.
