For more than two decades, insecurity has continued to devastate northern Nigeria, leaving behind thousands of deaths, displaced communities, destroyed livelihoods and shattered hopes. From the violent insurgency of Boko Haram to attacks linked to Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), kidnappings, banditry and deadly clashes involving armed herders, large parts of the region have struggled under persistent violence.
Entire communities across the North-East North-Central and North- West have witnessed schools shut down, farms abandoned and businesses crippled as insecurity continues to slow development. Yet, despite the scale of destruction, many citizens believe the level of urgency and political commitment required to confront the crisis has remained weak among those in authority.
Ironically, the same intensity many citizens expect from political leaders in addressing insecurity appeared on full display during the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primaries held across parts of the country on Saturday.
From political horse-trading to allegations of intimidation, strategic withdrawals and violent disruptions, the contests revealed the enormous energy invested in political ambition at a time insecurity continues to dominate national conversations.
In Plateau State, one of the states heavily affected by recurring violence over the years, tension escalated sharply within the APC after Yusuf Gagdi, the lawmaker representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency, announced himself as the party’s consensus candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The development immediately triggered controversy and deepened divisions within the party.
Gagdi made the declaration in a statement posted on his verified Facebook page on Friday, where he described the endorsement as “a mandate rooted in loyalty, service, and performance.”
According to him, the decision followed consultations and assessments of his commitment to the ideals and leadership of the APC within the constituency and Plateau State.
The federal lawmaker explained that the directive conveying his adoption was communicated through the personal envoy of Caleb Mutfwang, the Plateau State Governor, alongside the executive chairmen of Pankshin, Kanke and Kanam local government areas.
Gagdi also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he said endorsed his third-term ambition.
“I remain deeply humbled by the confidence reposed in me by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who graciously endorsed my candidature for a third term bid,” he stated.
He equally appreciated Nentawe Yilwatda, the APC National Chairman for what he described as unwavering support and confidence in his leadership.
Gagdi further thanked Governor Mutfwang for identifying him as the preferred candidate of the party after what he termed close monitoring of his grassroots mobilisation, loyalty to party leadership and contributions to the growth of the APC in the constituency.
According to him, stakeholders, appointees and party structures from the state level down to ward and unit levels had been directed to align with his candidature.
He also appreciated constituents for their support and commended aspirants who stepped down from the contest, describing their actions as a demonstration of maturity and commitment to party unity. But the declaration immediately sparked outrage from within the APC fold.
The Media and Publicity Committee of the campaign organisation of another aspirant, John Tongshinen Gozhak, dismissed the endorsement claim as false and misleading.
In a strongly worded reaction, the organisation accused Gagdi of attempting to manipulate public perception and intimidate party members.
According to the statement, the claim was “a desperate attempt to create panic, suppress participation, and discourage other aspirants and APC faithfuls in the ongoing election across Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency.”
“For the records, there was no such endorsement as falsely claimed. No official adoption took place. No legitimate consensus was reached. What Nigerians and APC members are witnessing is nothing more than a calculated political script hurriedly assembled to create a false impression of inevitability where none exists,” the statement said.
“The truth is simple: the election is ongoing, APC members are voting freely, and the people are making their choices. At a time when party faithfuls expect maturity, fairness, and respect for democratic principles, it is disappointing that an aspirant who should be selling his scorecard has instead resorted to manufactured endorsements and political intimidation tactics.”
The campaign organisation further insisted that the APC in PKK “is not owned by any individual,” stressing that the party belongs to members at the wards, polling units and communities “whose voices matter far more than propaganda issued from press statements.”
“No amount of pressure, name-dropping, or staged political messaging can stop the momentum of the people. This election will not be decided by manufactured headlines. It will be decided by APC members at the grassroots,” it added.
The group urged party members to remain calm and focused while participating peacefully in the process.
The controversy surrounding the PKK primaries emerged amid reports of strategic withdrawals by several aspirants across Plateau State as political camps intensified negotiations ahead of the 2027 elections.
Party insiders disclosed that consultations were ongoing among aspirants across various federal constituencies, with some considering withdrawal in the interest of party unity and strategic positioning.
However, while party leaders spoke publicly about unity and consensus, events in another part of Plateau exposed the fragile state of internal cohesion within the ruling party.
In Jos South Local Government Area, chaos erupted during the APC direct primary for Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency after suspected thugs disrupted the collation of votes at RCM Primary School, Zarmaganda.
The violence reportedly began shortly after electoral officials commenced recounting votes following disagreements between supporters of Dachung Baggos, former House of Representatives member and another frontline aspirant, Esther Dung.
Party sources said the recount process initially involved votes for Baggos, who polled 570 votes, and another aspirant, Arum, who secured 66 votes.
Trouble reportedly started when officials moved to count votes for Esther Dung, prompting suspected thugs to invade the venue while insisting the process should not continue.
An APC official, who spoke anonymously, said tension escalated after supporters of Baggos rejected the initial declaration of Esther Dung as winner and demanded a recount.
Supporters of Dung reportedly opposed the recount, arguing that many accredited voters, especially women, had already voted and left the venue.
“The electoral officer appealed for calm and assured both camps of transparency,” the source said.
Despite the intervention, both factions failed to reach an agreement before the situation degenerated into violence.
Witnesses said electoral officials, party members and supporters fled the scene for safety as the suspected thugs disrupted the process.
Security agents later evacuated electoral officials from the venue.
All the official results in Plateau state were yet to be announced at the time of this report.
The incidents in Plateau reflected a broader pattern seen during party primaries across Nigeria, where political contests increasingly attract enormous resources, influence and mobilisation while insecurity, unemployment and poverty continue to weigh heavily on ordinary citizens.
For many observers, the contrast is striking. Communities battling attacks from armed groups often complain about delayed responses, weak coordination and insufficient political will. Yet, during elections and party contests, political actors rapidly mobilise structures, negotiate alliances, deploy supporters and fiercely defend personal interests.
Analysts believe the growing obsession with political survival and electoral dominance has contributed to the neglect of governance priorities, particularly in regions already struggling with insecurity.
They argue that unless political leaders begin to invest the same level of urgency, coordination and commitment into security and development as they do in electoral contests, public frustration may continue to deepen.
Addressing the insecurity crisis, experts insist, requires more than military operations. They say government at all levels must prioritise intelligence gathering, youth employment, education and community policing while ensuring justice for victims of violence.
A retired military officer who pleaded anonymity told BusinessDay that the government must move beyond relying solely on military force if it hopes to end insecurity in northern Nigeria.
“You cannot bomb your way out of every security crisis. The government must address poverty, unemployment, weak intelligence gathering, porous borders and the growing frustration among young people. Until political leaders show the same seriousness they display during elections in tackling insecurity, the violence may continue for many years,” he said.
There are also increasing calls for political leaders to reduce divisive rhetoric, strengthen democratic institutions and redirect public resources toward rebuilding communities devastated by years of conflict.
Observers further argue that Nigeria’s political class must begin to demonstrate leadership beyond elections by showing sustained commitment to governance, accountability and national stability.
Until that happens, many Nigerians fear that politics may continue to receive more energy and attention than the insecurity threatening the country’s future.
