Ex-senator Ishaku Abbo is now Labour Party's governorship candidate in Adamawa

Former senator Ishaku Abbo is now the Labour Party’s governorship candidate in Adamawa State. This comes just days after PREMIUM TIMES reported how he helped his wife breach airport security at Yola Airport.

Mr Abbo was confirmed as the party’s candidate during a primary election and affirmation event held in Yola on Sunday. His campaign begins amid serious public scrutiny and regulatory concerns.

This political news comes against a backdrop of a growing national issue. Reports from PREMIUM TIMES showed Patience Abbo, Mr Abbo’s wife, accessed a restricted area of the airport at least twice. She was seen accompanying her husband to the aircraft staircase before going back to the terminal.

These incidents have led to a ministerial investigation. Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, shared that the situation shocked the ministry and raised many questions.

At first, airport officials tried to downplay the situation. They claimed Mrs Abbo misled security officers on duty by saying she was a ticketed passenger. But the release of a second video showing the same pattern of behavior raised doubts about this explanation, leading to a deeper investigation into the airport's security protocols.

During the affirmation event in the Adamawa State capital, Sam Ochiama, the Chairman of the Labour Party Primary Election Committee, stated that the process followed the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution closely. He said candidates who were unopposed, including Mr Abbo, were confirmed through voice votes by delegates and party stakeholders.

The committee also announced candidates for the three senatorial districts in the state, eight House of Representatives seats, and 25 House of Assembly constituencies. Emmanuel Musa will represent Adamawa Central, Peter Fwa for Adamawa South, and Dawuda Mohammed for Adamawa North.

The Labour Party is hopeful about its chances in the 2027 elections. They urged members to stay united and ramp up grassroots mobilization as the polls approach.

While the primary election ended with a show of party unity, there are serious concerns from aviation experts about Mr Abbo’s entourage and their compliance with national security rules.

According to Part 17 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs), entering an airport apron without valid travel documents or official biometric access cards is strictly forbidden. This is due to the high risks involved, especially with live aircraft engines.

The ongoing investigation will look into whether airport staff followed the proper security protocols and if any actions need to be taken.

Attempts to contact the newly confirmed governorship candidate for comments regarding the ministerial probe or his political nomination were unsuccessful at the time of this report.