Gagdi, who is serving his second term and currently chairs the House Committee on Navy, was defeated in the APC primary election conducted across the three local government areas within the constituency.

Announcing the outcome on Sunday in Pankshin, chairman of the electoral committee, Daspan Ishaya, said Dr. John Tongshinen emerged victorious after polling 29,968 votes.

According to Ishaya, Gagdi secured 5,849 votes, far behind Tongshinen, who was subsequently declared winner of the primary and the APC candidate for the Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency.

He also noted that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) monitored the exercise.

Al-Makura made his position known on Sunday at the Emir’s Palace in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, during the grand finale of consultative visits by Adamu’s campaign council to traditional rulers across the state.

According to the former governor, his endorsement of Adamu is based on his belief that the former police boss possesses the leadership qualities, experience, and capacity needed to govern Nasarawa State effectively.

Al-Makura explained that the final leg of the traditional consultation was held at the Lafia Emir’s Palace because Lafia is Adamu’s home base and ancestral community.

He said the visit was not merely ceremonial but a significant homecoming for Adamu after engaging with royal fathers and stakeholders across the state ahead of the APC governorship primary, which is just days away.

“It is not a courtesy; it is an obligation for the son, after having seen virtually every leader, every emirate, every chief, every royalty, to come back home as the grand finale to brief his father about the successes and gains he has had in the entire campaign, especially now that it remains just about three days before the governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress,” Al-Makura stated.

He added that the visit was aimed at seeking royal blessings, guidance, and support from the Emir as Adamu’s father figure and traditional leader.

“The visit is to seek royal blessings, royal guidance and royal support from his father and father of the land. Therefore, we are before you today in the congregation of supporters and admirers of IGP Adamu, to pay what I call a special courtesy, different from all other courtesies paid in various palaces,” he added.