Ombugadu, Maku, Envuladu, Dodo lock horns in Nasarawa North senatorial by-election
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed June 20, 2026, for the by-election to fill the vacant position for Nasarawa North Senatorial District seat. The seat became vacant following the death of Senator Godiya Akwashiki in December 2025 Beyond filling the vacancy left by Akwashiki, who served from 2019 to 2025, is the fact […]
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed June 20, 2026, for the by-election to fill the vacant position for Nasarawa North Senatorial District seat.
The seat became vacant following the death of Senator Godiya Akwashiki in December 2025
Beyond filling the vacancy left by Akwashiki, who served from 2019 to 2025, is the fact that the poll holding in about two weeks, has quickly evolved into a strategic battleground for political parties jostling for relevance ahead of the 2027 general elections and for some of the most prominent politicians in the zone to test their popularity.
The race is not just about replacing a senator; it is about testing party structures, managing internal divisions, and signaling strength in a zone historically resistant to the ruling party’s dominance.
The vacancy and zoning decision
Nasarawa North Senatorial District comprises three local government areas: Akwanga, Nasarawa Eggon, and Wamba. Following Akwashiki’s death, stakeholders across the zone, including Governor Abdullahi Sule of Akwanga LGA, reached a unanimous decision to zone the senatorial ticket to Nasarawa Eggon, the late senator’s hometown. This consensus reflects the long-standing political norm in the state of rotational power-sharing among the LGAs within the zone, aimed at managing ethnic and religious diversity and maintaining intra-party cohesion.
The zoning decision immediately narrowed the field of contenders and intensified lobbying within Nasarawa Eggon. For the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling party in the state, zoning also served as a tool to manage ambitions and present a united front.
However, as history in Nasarawa politics shows, consensus at the stakeholder level does not always translate into harmony at the grassroots, especially when primary elections produce aggrieved aspirants.
The major parties are fielding candidates with deep electoral experience, making the by-election a contest of political heavyweights rather than political novices.
APC: Danladi Halilu Envulanza
The APC picked Danladi Halilu Envulanza, the longest-serving Secretary of the National Judicial Council (NJC), as its candidate. Envulanza hails from Nasarawa Eggon and brings technocratic credentials and federal experience to the race. His selection aligns with the zoning arrangement and positions the APC to leverage the incumbency advantage of the state government.
Envulanza is not new to electoral contests. He ran for the same Senate seat in 2023 on the APC platform, but lost to the late Akwashiki, then of the SDP. That history is both an asset and a liability: he understands the terrain, but he also carries the burden of a previous defeat.
The APC machinery in Nasarawa is formidable, with control of state resources and the governor’s influence. The party’s goal is clear: win Nasarawa North to expand its footprint in a zone that has long been an opposition stronghold, thereby improving its prospects in 2027.
However, the APC faces an internal bottleneck. The outcome of its recent primary election generated grievances among aspirants and their supporters. How the party manages these fallouts will determine whether it can consolidate votes or lose a critical bloc to protest voting or apathy. In Nasarawa North, where margins are often slim, internal disunity could be fatal.
Labour Party: Labaran Maku
Former Minister of Information Labaran Maku has been affirmed as the Labour Party’s candidate. Maku is a veteran politician with a strong base in Nasarawa Eggon. He won the LGA during the 2015 governorship election under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) but lost it to Emmanuel Ombugadu in 2019 under the same governorship contest. His political resilience and ability to mobilize are well known.
Maku’s candidacy is also tied to 2027. He has already been affirmed as the Labour Party’s senatorial candidate for the 2027 general elections. Winning the by-election would boost his momentum and position him to challenge Governor Sule, who is expected to be the APC’s senatorial candidate for Nasarawa North in 2027. But Maku’s path is complicated by a factional split within the Labour Party.
Benjamin Ashime is also laying claim to the party’s ticket for the by-election, raising the specter of divided votes and legal disputes. If unresolved, the factionalization could undermine Maku’s chances despite his political weight.
PDP: Emmanuel David Ombugadu
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has fielded Emmanuel David Ombugadu, the party’s 2023 governorship candidate and a two-time House of Representatives member for the Akwanga/Nasarawa Eggon/Wamba federal constituency from 2011 to 2019. Ombugadu is aligned with the Wike faction of the PDP and remains a central figure in Nasarawa’s opposition politics.
Ombugadu’s electoral record in the zone is strong. He has twice won the House of Representatives seat covering the entire senatorial district, demonstrating his ability to secure votes across Akwanga, Nasarawa Eggon, and Wamba. Political observers see his senatorial run as part of a broader strategy to galvanize support ahead of another gubernatorial bid in 2027. A strong showing in the by-election would validate his influence and energize the PDP base. Like Maku, Ombugadu benefits from the zone’s historical inclination toward opposition candidates.
NDC: Architect Ishaya Dodo
Architect Ishaya Dodo from Akwanga local government area is flying the flag of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). While the NDC lacks the structure of the APC, PDP, or Labour Party, Dodo’s presence adds another layer to the contest and could affect vote distribution, especially if the major parties fail to consolidate their bases.
Historical context: An opposition stronghold
Nasarawa North’s political history is critical to understanding the 2026 by-election. Since 1999, the zone has largely resisted the ruling party at the senatorial level. The only exception came in 2019 when the late Akwashiki, then on the APC platform, defeated former Deputy Governor Mike Abdul of the PDP by a slim margin. That victory underscored the APC’s capacity to penetrate the zone when it fields a candidate with local appeal and when opposition forces are fragmented.
Religious and ethnic dynamics also shape the zone’s politics. Since 1999, Nasarawa North has elected Christian candidates to the Senate in every cycle except 2011. That year, Senator Musa Nagogo was declared the winner by INEC and served for several months before the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the late Solomon Ewuga of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). The pattern suggests that identity politics, particularly Christian representation, remains a potent factor in voter behavior in the zone.
APC’s challenge: Turning structure into votes
As the ruling party, the APC enters the by-election with structural advantages: control of the state government, access to resources, and the influence of Governor Sule, who hails from the zone. Winning Nasarawa North would not only fill the Senate vacancy but also signal the APC’s growing competitiveness in a hostile terrain, boosting morale ahead of 2027.
Yet the party’s biggest challenge is internal. The fallout from the primary election must be contained. Aspirants who lost out and their supporters need to be reconciled to avoid vote hemorrhaging. In a zone where elections are decided by narrow margins, even a small bloc of disaffected APC members could tip the balance. The party’s ability to manage post-primary grievances will be as important as its campaign strategy.
Moreover, the APC must contend with the zone’s historical resistance to the ruling party. Voters in Nasarawa North have shown a willingness not to align with t the party in power at the center or state when they perceive alternatives that align with local interests. Envulanza’s technocratic profile may appeal to some, but he will need to translate that into grassroots mobilization.
Opposition strategy
For the opposition, the by-election is an opportunity to reaffirm Nasarawa North’s status as an opposition stronghold. Maku and Ombugadu, both seasoned politicians, are expected to wage aggressive campaigns. Maku’s dual objective, winning the by-election and setting up for 2027 means he has every incentive to run an intensive campaign. His challenge is to unify the Labour Party or at least minimize the damage caused by the Ashime faction.
Ombugadu, meanwhile, is playing a longer game. By contesting the Senate seat, he keeps his political machinery active and expands his reach across the three LGAs. His supporters believe that his House of Representatives victories, where he polled votes comparable to the senatorial candidate, demonstrate his capacity to mobilize the district. A strong performance now would position him as a formidable contender in the 2027 governorship race.
NDC’s Ishaya Dodo’s candidacy could draw votes from disgruntled members of the major parties, adding unpredictability to the outcome.
The 2027 shadow
Every aspect of the 2026 by-election is colored by 2027. For Governor Sule and the APC, a victory would weaken the opposition’s narrative and strengthen the party’s claim to dominance in Nasarawa. For Maku, it is a stepping stone to a direct confrontation with Sule for the Senate seat in 2027. For Ombugadu, it is a platform to rebuild momentum after his 2023 gubernatorial loss.
The by-election will also test INEC’s preparedness and the political climate in Nasarawa. Akwashiki’s death created a vacuum, but the contest to fill it has exposed the underlying tensions and ambitions that will define the state’s politics in the next cycle.
The June 20, 2026, Nasarawa North Senatorial by-election is more than a routine replacement poll. It is a litmus test for party strength, candidate viability, and voter sentiment in a zone with a history of defying the ruling party. The APC has the machinery but must heal internal wounds. The Labour Party and PDP have experienced candidates but face challenges of unity and strategic positioning. The NDC adds an element of unpredictability.
With zoning settling the question of origin, the contest now hinges on party management, voter mobilization, and the ability of candidates to connect with an electorate that has consistently valued local identity over party loyalty. Given the political profiles involved and the historical voting pattern in Nasarawa North, the outcome remains uncertain. That uncertainty is what makes this by-election one of the most closely watched political events in Nasarawa State as the countdown to 2027 begins.