As someone who has followed Nasarawa politics closely and believes Senator Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo is the best man to lead the state in 2027, his call for residents to collect their Permanent Voter Cards is exactly the kind of practical, people-centred leadership the state has been missing.
Coming just days after INEC opened nationwide PVC collection on 9 October 2026, Onawo’s message is direct and powerful: “Your PVC is your voice. Collect your card, protect your right to vote, and be ready to make your voice count.” He is not waiting for the usual last-minute rush.
He is urging Nasarawa people—and asking them to remind family, friends, and neighbours—to secure the one document that turns intention into actual participation. That is the mark of a candidate who understands that real change begins with empowered citizens, not empty promises.
Experience That Matches the Moment
Onawo brings a rare combination of experience that no other candidate currently matches. He has served as Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, completed two terms in the House of Representatives, and is currently the senator representing Nasarawa South. He has worked at every level of government and built alliances across the state’s 13 local government areas. When the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) needed a credible, grassroots-oriented flagbearer, party members affirmed him in Lafia after the previous candidate stepped aside in the interest of the state. That decision was not accidental; it reflected a recognition that Onawo has both the capacity and the reach to deliver.
His platform is clear: security, infrastructure, agriculture, quality education, and job creation. These are not abstract slogans. They address the daily realities of average Nasarawa people who have watched successive administrations fail to transform the state’s potential into better lives. Onawo has repeatedly said the state needs to depart from the old order that left most citizens behind. His PVC appeal is the practical first step of that departure—ensuring that the people who want change actually have the means to vote for it.
Why This Call Matters Now
In Nasarawa, as across Nigeria, many registered voters still leave their cards uncollected until it is too late. Early reports of low turnout at collection centres in several parts of the country show the problem is real. Onawo is confronting it head-on.
By encouraging peer-to-peer mobilisation, he is building a network of informed, ready voters rather than relying only on party machinery. For an APM candidate positioning himself as a genuine alternative, this is smart and principled politics. It treats citizens as partners, not just voters to be mobilised at the last hour.
His roots in Nasarawa South give him a strong base, but his message is statewide. He has spoken of uniting the diverse people of Nasarawa and running an inclusive government. In a contest that includes candidates from the APC, ADC, PDP, and others, Onawo stands out as the experienced, issue-focused option who is already acting like a governor by prioritising civic readiness.
The Choice Ahead
Nasarawa does not need another cycle of the same unfulfilled expectations. It needs a leader who has legislative depth, grassroots connections, and the courage to tell people that their voice matters—and then help them use it. Senator Onawo’s PVC call is not just campaign talk.
It is an early demonstration of the hands-on, responsible leadership he intends to bring to the Government House.
For those of us who believe he is the best choice for 2027, the task is straightforward: collect your PVC, encourage others to do the same, and prepare to make that voice count. The future of Nasarawa will not be decided by those who stay silent or wait until the last minute. It will be decided by those who are ready. Onawo is ready. The question is whether enough of us will be.
-Pamela O. writes from Nassarawa State.
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