The Nasarawa State Government has extended its condolences to the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, following a tragic road accident that claimed the lives of some of his supporters on Monday.
‎
‎The supporters were reportedly travelling to attend a political gathering linked to the former police chief’s campaign when the accident occurred in Lafia. Reports circulating on social media and later corroborated by political stakeholders indicated that the crash occurred around the Lafia Flyover, leaving a number of persons dead and others injured.
‎
‎The State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Nawani Aboki, conveyed the government’s sympathy while receiving members of the newly elected State Executive Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in his office on Tuesday (September 15, 2026).
‎
‎Aboki described the incident as heartbreaking, noting that the government and people of Nasarawa State received the news with shock and sadness.
‎
‎He expressed condolences to Adamu, the SDP campaign organisation, families of the deceased and all those affected by the tragedy.
‎
‎”The government shares in the grief of the families who lost their loved ones in the unfortunate incident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured and those receiving treatment,” the commissioner said.
‎
‎Aboki stressed that road accidents do not discriminate on the basis of political affiliation, religion or ethnicity, urging political leaders and campaign organisations to continually educate their supporters on responsible road use, especially during the electioneering period.
‎
‎He also called on motorists to obey traffic regulations and drive responsibly, while urging relevant agencies and stakeholders to intensify public enlightenment campaigns aimed at reducing road crashes across the state.
‎
‎The commissioner’s appeal comes amid heightened political activities in the State ahead of the 2027 governorship election. Security agencies had recently cautioned political parties and their supporters against actions capable of endangering public safety, including reckless road use during political gatherings and rallies.
‎
‎As of the time of filing this report, neither the SDP campaign organisation nor emergency response authorities had issued an official statement confirming the exact casualty figure or the identities of those injured.
‎
‎Meanwhile, Aboki congratulated the newly inaugurated leadership of the NUJ in Nasarawa State and reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration to sustaining a productive partnership with the media in promoting transparency, accountability and good governance.
‎
‎He noted that Nasarawa State is marking 30 years of its creation and emphasized the need for stronger collaboration among critical stakeholders, particularly the media, to drive the State’s development agenda.
‎
‎Responding, the Chairperson of the NUJ in the State, Comrade Juliana Ose Ofoku, commended the State Government for maintaining a cordial relationship with journalists and pledged the union’s continued support for initiatives that promote peace, development and responsible journalism.
