News Editor
By Ibrahim Nasiru
“The art of war is of vital importance to the State. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin.” This timeless maxim from Sun Tzu serves as a fitting prologue to the current political trajectory of Major General Nuhu Bala Angbazo (Rtd).
In the complex theatre of Nigerian politics, the transition from the battlefield to the ballot box is a path well trodden, but rarely with the strategic precision currently displayed by the retired General.
As Nasarawa State pivots toward the 2027 gubernatorial election, Angbazo has emerged not just as a candidate, but as the focal point of a shifting political gravity.
Recently crowned the Nasarawa Personality of the Year 2026, he is personifying a “Third Way” movement that is rapidly gaining momentum across the state’s three senatorial zones.
Angbazo’s entry into the race under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) banner brings a level of discipline and global exposure seldom seen in local contests.
With 35 years of military service, culminating in his role as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3rd Armoured Division, he speaks with the authority of a man who has managed security at the highest levels.
His intellectual depth is equally formidable; as the first African to receive the Strategic Leadership Award from the Royal College of Defence Studies in the UK, he offers a brand of leadership that is as much about policy as it is about protection.
At the heart of his campaign is a holistic blueprint for state wide renewal. Moving beyond the usual rhetoric, Angbazo’s Seven-Point Agenda seeks to address the state’s structural vulnerabilities.
His “Security-First” approach aims to reclaim farmlands and ensure that Nasarawa’s agrarian economy can thrive without the shadow of conflict. This is coupled with a vision for inclusive governance, encapsulated in his pledge of “One Nasarawa, One People”, a direct appeal to bridge the ethnic and religious divides that have historically fragmented the state’s political landscape.
The General’s political journey has been marked by a series of calculated manoeuvres. By exiting the PDP to lead the National Opposition Coalition through the ADC, he has successfully positioned himself outside the internal friction currently dogging the major parties.
This “rescue mission” has resonated deeply with the grassroots. From the Eggon Political State Forum in Lafia to the student unions in Akwanga, his message of institutional reform and youth empowerment is finding fertile ground among an electorate hungry for a departure from the status quo.
As the ruling APC consolidates behind its preferred successor, the “Angbazo Factor” has introduced a volatile and exciting new variable. He isn’t just running for an office; he is campaigning on a philosophy of unity and shared progress.
For many, he represents a safe harbour, a “Noah’s Ark” for those seeking leadership that blends the decisiveness of a General with the vision of a statesman.
Nasarawa stands at a defining moment. Whether the state chooses continuity or this bold new direction, one thing is certain: General Nuhu Angbazo has fundamentally redefined the stakes of the 2027 race.
Chief Ibrahim Nasiru
A Public Affairs Analyst writes from Abuja
