LAFIA, NASARAWA STATE — A violent clash has disrupted the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 presidential campaign flag-off rally at Lafia Square, Nasarawa State, leaving at least 40 people injured and several others missing.
The chaos erupted in the presence of Vice President Kashim Shettima, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and other top ruling party dignitaries, forcing the organizers to bring the mega campaign event to an abrupt and chaotic end.
Chants and Escalating Violence
The unrest began when youths in APC attire chanted slogans for SDP governorship hopeful and former IGP Adamu Abubakar, triggering a physical fight with loyalists of APC candidate Aliyu Wadada and security forces. The confrontation escalated into a widespread brawl that forced dignitaries to flee and led security operatives to deploy tear gas.
State Government Blames Political Actors
The Nasarawa State Government, through SSG Labaran Magaji, condemned the incident as an orchestrated act linking the violence to political figures like Senator Tanko Al-Makura and IGP Muhammad Adamu Abubakar, while directing the DSS to investigate and prosecute those responsible.
Growing Intra-Party Tensions
The clashes underscore severe internal fractures within the Nasarawa State APC amid intense succession disputes ahead of 2027. Despite national reconciliation efforts, divisions among key power brokers—including Governor Abdullahi Sule, Al-Makura, and Abdullahi Adamu—continue to threaten the party’s stability in the state.
