The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senatorial Candidate for Nasarawa North, in the June 20 bye election, Dr David Ombugadu, has defended his support for President Bola Tinubu, saying it is a strategic alliance and pathway to his 2027 governorship ambition.
Ombugadu said this during a radio interview programme, “Matter Arising” monitored on Option FM, Akwanga, on Thursday.
Ombugadu dismissed claims in some quarters that aligning with the centre government or engaging with All Progressives Party (APC) figures amounts to anti-party activity.
“The setback we suffered in 2023 is because of access. It’s because of the connection. No one person could pick up a phone to make a call to rescue our women and our supporters when they were arrested, I felt that there was a gap.
“We need someone who will protect us. And for someone to protect us, you must also accommodate the interests of the person.
“When I’m in touch with the centre, it’s influence. It’s fighting for your people. It’s not anti-party. It’s an alliance,” Ombugadu emphasised.
Ombugadu said that his contest for the Nasarawa North Senatorial Seat on June 20 would not distract him from his governorship ambition, calling it a “pregnancy project” that would last only nine months.
According to him, there is a functional relationship between his aspiration for the Senate and his 2027 governorship ambition.
“When you join the parliament freshly, you need one year to learn the legislative business.
“There is nobody in this state, in this zone, going for that position who is experienced like me in legislative business. In fact, Sen. Godiya Akwashiki spent 23 hours learning the legislative business under me.
“The reason why I’m going there now is that my four months can be equated to four years; it is familiar terrain to me, and I will attract more developmental projects to Nasarawa North Senatorial District,” he said.
He said while serving in the House of Representatives, he procured the biggest 15MVA substation transformer to Nasarawa Eggon, placing 20,000 lives on NHIS, and facilitating recruitment of 85 soldiers, construction of 18 primary healthcare centres, and drilling of over 800 boreholes in the zone.
On zoning arrangements, he stated that the PDP recognises and respects the zoning of the Nasarawa North Senatorial Seat to Akwanga, particularly for the Mada extraction, in the 2027 general election.
He faulted the Labour Party’s candidate, Labaran Maku, for contesting both the 2026 bye election and the 2027 Senate race.
“Our party, PDP, respects that, and that is why we accommodate Akwanga in our arrangement for 2027; that’s why Benbella Madaki has been endorsed by our party,” he said.
Ombugadu, while assuring the people of the zone to consolidate on the achievement of the Late Sen. Godiya Akwashiki, appealed for continuous support to emerge victorious in the bye- election.
