Former senator Ishaku Abbo becomes Labour Party's candidate for governor

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

Abbo was confirmed as the party’s candidate during a primary election and affirmation event held in Yola on Sunday. His campaign starts under a lot of scrutiny from both the public and regulatory bodies.

The political situation is part of a growing national issue. Reports from PREMIUM TIMES showed that Patience Abbo, the senator’s wife, accessed a restricted area of the airport at least twice while she was with her husband, going to an aircraft staircase and then returning to the terminal.

These reports led to a ministerial investigation. The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said the situation shocked the ministry and raised serious concerns.

Initially, airport officials tried to downplay the issue. They said Mrs Abbo tricked security officers by claiming she was a ticketed passenger. But a second video showing a repeat of the same situation weakened that excuse, leading to an active investigation into how the airport’s security was compromised.

During the affirmation event in the capital of Adamawa State, Sam Ochiama, the Chairman of the Labour Party Primary Election Committee, stated that the process followed the Electoral Act and party rules.

Ochiama mentioned that candidates who were unopposed, including Abbo, were confirmed by voice votes from delegates and party members. Along with the governorship candidate, the committee revealed candidates for the state’s three senatorial districts, eight House of Representatives seats, and 25 House of Assembly constituencies.

The senatorial candidates are Emmanuel Musa for 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 work harder to mobilize support ahead of the polls.

While the primary election showed party unity, there are serious concerns from aviation experts about whether Abbo’s team followed national security rules. According to Part 17 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs), no one should enter an airport apron without verified travel documents or official biometric access cards. This rule is crucial due to the dangers posed by live aircraft engines.

The investigation will look into whether airport staff followed security protocols and if any actions need to be taken against them. Efforts to contact the newly confirmed governorship candidate about the ministerial investigation or his political nomination were unsuccessful at the time of this report.