Political maturity on display as Nathaniel, Binani, Abbo share platform at Yola event
By Mohammed Ismail
Three leading contenders in the 2027 Adamawa governorship election, Christopher Nathaniel of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and Senator Ishaku Abbo of the Labour Party (LP) shared a platform in Yola on Saturday, where they exchanged words of goodwill despite belonging to different political parties and competing for the same office.
The three politicians attended the 2026 Inaugural and Cultural Day celebration of the Mumuye Development Association at Ribadu Square, Yola, an event that brought together members of the Mumuye community and political stakeholders.
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Their appearance together attracted considerable attention as the governorship race gradually takes shape ahead of the 2027 election.
Rather than turning the occasion into a platform for political attacks, the three candidates used their separate remarks to speak about their relationships, the state and the need for understanding among political actors.
One of the most notable moments came when Binani spoke about Nathaniel, whom she identified as one of her former teachers at Government Girls Secondary School, Yola.
Binani acknowledged Nathaniel’s influence in her formative years and spoke warmly about the relationship between teacher and student.
She also referred to Abbo as a son and described both Nathaniel and Abbo in positive terms, saying they were trusted and honest political figures who could be entrusted with leadership responsibilities. Her remarks were met with applause from the audience.
Nathaniel, in his remarks, urged political actors to maintain mutual understanding and place the interest of Adamawa above partisan considerations.
Abbo, while responding, also spoke positively about Nathaniel and Binani, describing them as mature, responsible, reliable and dependable political figures.
The exchange was notable because all three are preparing to contest the same governorship election, with the Independent National Electoral Commission’s published candidate information identifying Nathaniel as the SDP candidate, Binani as the NDC candidate and Abbo as the Labour Party candidate.
The encounter, however, did not by itself amount to a formal political alliance or agreement among the three candidates.
Another highlight of the occasion was a N1 million donation by each of the three politicians towards the development of the Mumuye community and its programmes.
The National President of the Mumuye Development Association commended the politicians for their support and said the community would continue to maintain its law-abiding posture while engaging with political stakeholders across party lines.
Nathaniel campaign denies withdrawal rumour
Meanwhile, the Christopher Nathaniel Campaign Organisation has dismissed reports suggesting that the SDP candidate is planning to withdraw from the 2027 governorship race in favour of another candidate.
The organisation said Nathaniel’s decision to contest was based on his personal conviction that Adamawa required a different development model, particularly one focused on industrialisation, production and commercial activity.
It described Nathaniel as a political entrant rather than an establishment candidate and said his campaign was built around programmes intended to strengthen the state’s productive capacity and reduce dependence on external resources.
The organisation also dismissed reports of a possible withdrawal as politically motivated, alleging that the rumours were being circulated by opponents concerned about the prospects of the SDP candidate.
It urged supporters to remain focused on the campaign and said Nathaniel remained committed to the governorship contest.
