David Ombugadu, two-time governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State, has officially returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that he was tired of his role as opposition leader during the past eight years.

Ombugadu made the declaration at the Government House in Lafia during the APC caucus meeting, moments before the party’s state congress held at Lafia Square.

He explained that his years in the opposition were spent trying to discredit Governor Abdullahi Sule and his administration.

“I spent eight years on the other side, policing the policy of my elder brother. I was watching to see that I de-market his policies, to make sure that I de-market the party.

“Having led your opposition party for good eight years, my job and task was to make sure that at every time, anything that is good, we paint it black,” he said.

Ombugadu contested against Governor Sule in both the 2019 and 2023 governorship elections. He challenged the results of both polls up to the Supreme Court but was unsuccessful.

He said that his time in the opposition gave him the opportunity to scrutinise the governor’s performance closely, leading to his decision to join the ruling party.

“But today, I am so happy that having scrutinised his policies, having scrutinised his performances and everything, I have come to realise that the best thing to do for the interest of our people of Nasarawa State, for the growth and progress of Nasarawa State, is to join the progressives and also to bring on the table value,” he stated.

The former House of Representatives member, who represented Akwanga/Nassarawa/Eggon Federal Constituency from 2011 to 2015, explained that his departure from the APC in 2015 was not because the party was not viable.

He said he was a founding member of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which later merged to form the APC, but felt excluded due to vested interests in his zone despite his representative record.

Ombugadu acknowledged the roles played by former governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura and former national chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu in the party’s growth in the state.

He also hinted that more of his supporters would be joining the APC, mentioning in particular General Hashim.

“In politics, when we disagree, it’s interest; when we agree, it’s interest. When we are divided, it’s interest. When we come together, it’s interest. The most important thing is that the interest should be directed towards life impacting, towards peace that would transform the generality of the state,” Ombugadu added.

Governor Abdullahi Sule, while welcoming Ombugadu and other returnees, thanked stakeholders for the peaceful conduct of the party’s congresses from the ward to the state level.

He also welcomed the Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly and Senator Philip Gyunka, who had also recently returned to the party.

The governor announced that a special reception would be held to formally receive all the new entrants.

“As a result of that, there will be a special event where we are going to receive them. Whatever has happened has happened. Let it go. With the way we are going, there is no more opposition in Nasarawa State. We from within cannot be our own opposition,” Sule said.

Shortly afterwards, the party held its state congress at the Lafia Square where Dr. Aliyu Bello was affirmed as the State Chairman.

Speaking after his affirmation, Bello promised that the newly inaugurated state working committee would be fair to all aspirants vying for positions on the party’s platform.

“We are going to be fair and just to everybody who wishes to aspire for any position on the platform of our party. We cannot thank the Governor enough for all he has done for us; we want to assure you of our loyalty to your government and the party,” Bello said.

Governor Sule also reassured those who were not returned as executives that they remained relevant in the party, noting that other positions would be available for them. (BusinessDay)

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