Barely weeks after his retirement from the Nigeria Police Force, former Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) in charge of Operations, Ari Muhammed Ali, has made a bold political move by joining the All Progressives Congress (APC), with clear ambitions to clinch a Senate seat in the 2027 general elections, SaharaReporters has exclusively gathered.
DIG Ari Muhammed, who was compulsorily retired in March 2025 alongside several other top police officers, appears determined to translate his decades of public service into a career in elective politics. His foray into the APC comes amid continued controversy surrounding the current Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who remains in office despite being due for retirement.
Sources close to the development revealed that Ari Muhammed has thrown his hat into the political ring, targeting the Nasarawa South Senatorial District in the forthcoming 2027 polls.
“Ari Mohammed is contesting for Senate under the APC in Nasarawa South,” a top insider confirmed to SaharaReporters on Saturday.
Ari’s political ambition mirrors the trajectory of another high-profile former police chief from Nasarawa State, Mohammed Adamu, who served as Inspector-General of Police between 2019 and 2021 under the Muhammadu Buhari administration. Adamu recently declared his intention to run for the governorship of Nasarawa State in the same election cycle.
Ari Muhammed’s retirement came amidst a sweeping purge at the top echelons of the Nigeria Police Force. Alongside other DIGs — Dasuki Galandachi, Rhoda Adetutu Olofu, Jonathan Towuru (representing the South-South geopolitical zone), Suleiman Yusuf, Banji Lawal Badru, and Bala Ciroma — he was relieved of duty following allegations ranging from age falsification to violations of service regulations.
Despite the shadow cast by the controversial circumstances of his exit, Ari’s political ambition is gathering steam. Political watchers suggest that his strong security background and deep networks could position him as a formidable contender in Nasarawa South, a region already brimming with political heavyweights eyeing 2027.
Meanwhile, former IGP Mohammed Adamu’s gubernatorial declaration has further intensified political activities in Nasarawa State. Speaking at a meeting with the APC State Working Committee in Lafia, Adamu said his decision to join the race was in response to a “clarion call” by the people who believe in his leadership prowess.
“I am answering the call of my people who believe I can serve and move Nasarawa forward. My administration, by the grace of God, will be inclusive, transparent, and focused on delivering tangible development across all sectors,” Adamu vowed.
With Governor Abdullahi Sule, the incumbent APC governor, serving out his final term, Nasarawa’s political landscape is heating up — and the entry of high-profile former police chiefs like Ari Muhammed and Mohammed Adamu is set to dramatically reshape the race for 2027.
As Nasarawa inches closer to a critical political transition, all eyes will be on whether these former security czars can convert their badges of authority into ballots at the polls.
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