A former accountant-general of Nasarawa State, Zakka Yakubu, has declared his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election.

Mr Yakubu made the declaration on Sunday during a rally in Akwanga Local Government Area, where he formally announced his intention to contest the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He pledged to run an inclusive administration anchored on a “people’s budget” if elected.

According to Mr Yakubu, his administration would ensure that communities determine their most pressing needs before projects are captured in the budget.

“People’s budget means that councillors will go to their wards and ask the people what they want, and it will form part of the budget.

“Members of the House of Assembly will also engage their constituencies to know their priorities.

“If people need support in the health sector and the government is busy constructing roads, then there is a mismatch. Some communities need schools, and the government may be doing something entirely different. That is not good,” he said.

Mr Yakubu said that his administration would avoid embarking on “white elephant projects” and instead focus on interventions that directly improve the welfare of citizens.

“When you know the problems of the people, you will solve them according to what they want. This type of budget brings faster development because it focuses on the exact needs of the people,” he added.

Mr Yakubu thanked his supporters for their confidence in him and promised to prioritise community-driven development projects.

The former accountant-general also expressed concern that, despite increased allocations to states and local governments following the removal of fuel subsidy, many residents were still living in poverty.

He urged citizens to hold public office holders accountable for the utilisation of government allocations.

“Why are people blaming President Bola Tinubu when he has done a lot for states and local governments? When I come on board, we will change everything.

“You have your state governors and local government chairmen. Ask them what they are doing with the huge allocations they are receiving now,” he said.

Mr Yakubu further assured supporters that he possessed the experience and capacity to provide effective leadership for the state, citing his years of service as accountant-general and permanent secretary, as well as his experience in both the public and private sectors.

He pledged to invest heavily in education and agriculture, strengthen healthcare delivery, empower youth through skills-acquisition programmes, and support women economically.

He also promised to improve the state’s internally generated revenue and maximise Nasarawa’s proximity to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, to drive economic growth.

“I will ensure farmers get fertilisers in March and not in August because I am a farmer and I understand the appropriate timing for fertiliser application.

“We will establish industries to process our mineral resources here and create jobs for our youth.

“We will also increase our internally generated revenue so that we rely less on federal allocations,” he said.

Speaking at the event, Malam Haladu Agah, an APC chieftain from Nasarawa-Eggon Local Government Area, described Mr Yakubu as a philanthropist and grassroots politician whose contributions had endeared him to many residents across the state.

Mr Agah said Mr Yakubu had demonstrated competence, transparency and accountability during his service as Accountant-General and Permanent Secretary.

“I want to urge all APC supporters and lovers of Zakka to ensure they obtain their party cards and voter cards because it is through our votes that we can secure victory for him at the primaries and the general election,” he said.

Also speaking, Hajiaya Rakiya Dogara, the APC women leader in Keffi, commended Mr Yakubu for his consistent support for the less privileged, expressing confidence that he would do more for the people if elected governor. 

(NAN)