A 35-year-old governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdulrahman Bashir Haske, has formally declared his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election in Adamawa State, unveiling a seven-point policy framework aimed at driving economic growth, social development, and security.
Haske made the declaration on Saturday at Mahmud Ribadu Square, before party leaders, traditional rulers, stakeholders, and supporters drawn from the 21 local government areas of the state.
He said his decision followed extensive consultations within and outside the state, as well as encouragement from residents who had followed his humanitarian interventions through the AB Haske Foundation.
“Today, before Almighty God, the traditional institutions of this state, and thousands assembled here, I formally and publicly declare my intention to contest the governorship of Adamawa State in the 2027 general elections,” he stated.
The aspirant commended the administration of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri for what he described as progress in healthcare, road infrastructure, security cooperation, and fiscal discipline, pledging to sustain ongoing developmental efforts.
At the national level, he also expressed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing recent economic reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate adjustments, as difficult but necessary steps for long-term national stability.
Central to his declaration was the unveiling of the “A.D.A.M.A.W.A FIRST” agenda, a policy blueprint built on seven key pillars.
Under agriculture and agro-industry, Haske promised to build a ₦300 billion export-oriented economy, create one million jobs, and establish a ₦200 billion agricultural guarantee fund. He also proposed a “Great Canal Project” to support year-round farming and noted that his existing 48,000-tonnes-per-annum rice mill had created more than 5,000 jobs.
On infrastructure, the aspirant pledged to rehabilitate at least 25 kilometres of roads annually in each local government area, expand renewable energy supply, and ensure access to clean water and digital connectivity across communities.
In the social sector, Haske promised to rehabilitate 500 schools, recruit 3,000 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) teachers, and expand the state health insurance scheme to cover one million residents within 36 months, with subsidies for vulnerable groups.
He also outlined plans to promote youth inclusion through access to finance and skills development programmes, alongside technology-driven governance to improve public service delivery and reduce financial leakages.
On governance reforms, Haske pledged transparency and accountability, stating that public funds would be digitally tracked through open budgeting and independent oversight systems.
Addressing security, he announced plans to establish an Adamawa Security Trust Fund funded through state resources, private sector contributions, and federal partnerships. According to him, the initiative would deploy technology-driven solutions, strengthen intelligence gathering, and support community-based conflict resolution across the state.
He urged young people to support his candidacy, noting that more than 60 per cent of the state’s population is under 30 years of age. He cited the Not Too Young To Run Act as a major step in encouraging youth participation in governance.
Speaking at the event, the National Youth Leader of the APC, Dayo Israel, commended the increasing involvement of young people in politics and highlighted reforms within the party aimed at lowering entry barriers for youth aspirants.
Israel disclosed that the APC had introduced a 50 per cent discount on nomination forms for aspirants under the age of 40 to encourage broader participation.
He urged party members, particularly youths, to obtain their party membership and voter cards ahead of the party primaries, noting that the nomination process would remain open and competitive.
He added that the turnout at Haske’s declaration reflected growing acceptance of youth participation in leadership and stressed that the final decision on the governorship ticket would rest with the people of Adamawa State.
