Mr Adamu emerged on Saturday at a direct primary conducted by the party, following the withdrawal of its earlier candidate, Alhaji Musa Angba.

His emergence was affirmed through a voice vote during the primary, which was monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Speaking after being declared the party’s candidate, the retired police chief pledged to prioritise the development of infrastructure and basic services across the state if elected governor.

He identified road infrastructure and healthcare as some of the key areas his administration would focus on, particularly in rural communities.

Mr Adamu said his campaign would be centred on practical solutions to the challenges confronting residents at the ward and local government levels.

“During the campaign, we will be specific about what we intend to do in every local government and every community,” he said.

The former police chief is now expected to commence preparations for the 2027 governorship contest as the SDP’s standard-bearer in Nasarawa State.

The incident occurred shortly after the conclusion of a rally held at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, where the leadership of a coalition of groups supporting President Bola Tinubu was inaugurated.

The suspected attackers reportedly targeted journalists who had gone to the venue to cover the political gathering, with the Radio Nigeria, Pyramid FM vehicle coming under attack.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers used machetes and knives to repeatedly strike the vehicle, smashing its windows and damaging various parts of the bus.

Five journalists were reportedly affected in the incident.

They included Shafiu Abdullahi Panshekara, Abdulmajid Habib Isa Tukuntawa, Yakubu Abubakar Gwagwarwa and Ibrahim Hussaini, all of Radio Nigeria, Pyramid FM Kano.

Also attacked was Abdulbaki Ali Ahmed Sharifai of Guarantee Radio.

Other persons who were reportedly inside the Radio Nigeria vehicle when the attack occurred included the orderly of the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mariya Mahmud Bunkure; personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS); and the Political Adviser to former Kano State  Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

One of the journalists who spoke about the incident said the presence of security personnel inside the vehicle did not deter the suspected attackers.

According to him, the attackers continued to assault the vehicle despite the presence of security personnel and journalists inside.

He said the incident created fear and confusion among the occupants, who were returning from the political gathering.

The attack has raised concerns over the safety of journalists covering political activities in Kano, particularly during large political gatherings where media professionals are expected to move freely and report events without intimidation or violence.

The presence of security personnel in the vehicle also raises questions about the circumstances surrounding the attack and the need for authorities to investigate how the attackers were able to carry out the assault.

The incident comes amid increased political activities in Kano and across Nigeria, as political groups intensify mobilisation and strengthen their structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The motive behind the attack was not immediately established, while it was also unclear as of the time of filing this report whether any arrests had been made in connection with the incident.

Media organisations and stakeholders are expected to call for a thorough investigation into the incident and appropriate action against anyone found responsible.

The safety of journalists and other media workers covering political events remains a major concern, with stakeholders expected to ensure that journalists can perform their constitutional and professional responsibilities without fear of violence or intimidation.

It said that while political contestation is legitimate in a democracy, statements about national security and the Nigerian economy should be grounded in facts, institutional understanding, and a credible alternative policy agenda.

A statement by Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Public Communication, stated that the Federal Government announced the reopening of most of the country’s land borders on 14 March 2024, and it has not reversed that position.

The statement said that it is therefore difficult to understand which borders the former Vice President intends to “open” when the borders are already open.

According to Mr Dare, “On February 14, 2026, President Tinubu opened the Kamba borders in Kebbi State, with attendant economic and diplomatic gains.

“If he means he would relax existing border controls, then Nigerians deserve to know precisely which controls he intends to remove, why he considers their removal necessary, and what safeguards his administration would deploy against terrorism, arms trafficking, smuggling, human trafficking, and other forms of transnational organised crime,” he said.

The statement said the distinction is fundamental, saying that Atiku was unhinged and would say or announce anything to attract and deceive the politically gullible.

It further said; “An open border is not an uncontrolled border. Modern border management is designed to facilitate legitimate movement, trade and economic interaction while preventing criminals and terrorist organisations from exploiting the same channels.

“Effective border governance therefore requires a combination of immigration control, customs administration, intelligence-sharing, surveillance, technology and coordinated security operations.

“This is particularly important for Nigeria because our northern security environment cannot be divorced from developments across the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin.

“As Atiku rightly acknowledged, Nigeria shares borders with Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. While the region continues to confront terrorism, violent extremism and transnational organised crime have proven to be domestic disturbances that have found border porosity as a channel for their export to other countries.

“The security reality is compelling. The Global Terrorism Index 2026 indicates that approximately 41 per cent of terrorist attacks occur within 50 kilometres of an international border, while about 64 per cent occur within 100 kilometres.

“Borderlands are particularly vulnerable where difficult terrain, limited state presence and weak coordination create opportunities for terrorist organisations to operate.

“The implications for Nigeria are obvious. As domestic insurgencies evolve into increasingly networked and transnational terrorist threats, effective border management becomes an indispensable component of national security. Terrorists and criminal networks exploit sovereign boundaries precisely because security forces cannot simply pursue them across international borders without appropriate cooperation and legal frameworks.

“Consequently, Nigeria’s focus on the Northeast and Northwest corridors, including the coordinated deployment of the Armed Forces and other security institutions, should not be misconstrued as evidence of closed borders. It reflects responsible border security,” it stated.

The Presidency further said that Atiku, as an experienced politician who has previously occupied the second-highest office in the country, should know this distinction.

It also said that what Nigerians should reasonably expect from a presidential candidate is not a slogan about “opening borders,” but a detailed explanation of how his administration would improve border surveillance, strengthen intelligence-sharing with neighbouring states, modernise customs and immigration operations, deploy technology, protect border communities and deepen regional cooperation against terrorism and organised crime.

The statement said that President Bola Tinubu’s administration remained open to scrutiny and should be judged by measurable outcomes in security, economic recovery, border management and citizens’ welfare. But such scrutiny must be based on facts.

The Presidency emphasized that Nigeria’s borders must be open to legitimate commerce and movement, but secure against terrorists and criminals.

“They must be monitored with technology, led by intelligence, and integrated into the country’s broader national-security and economic strategy. That is the policy conversation Nigerians deserve.

“But, increasingly, the former Vice President’s public outings and policy pronouncements raise a more fundamental question: what new and credible contribution does he intend to make to Nigeria’s development that is not already contained in the reform trajectory of the present administration?

“Rather than presenting Nigerians with a coherent alternative, Atiku appears increasingly preoccupied with promising to reverse, reopen, or rename initiatives already being implemented,” it stated.