Nasarawa APC Crisis Deepens as Sule Endorses Wadada for 2027 Governorship

Fresh fissures have surfaced within the Nasarawa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after the public backing of Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada as the preferred successor to Governor Abdullahi Sule ahead of the 2027 governorship contest.

What many assumed would be a routine political realignment has instead ignited discontent and a quiet standoff among influential stakeholders within the ruling party as the 2027 general elections approach.

It would be recalled that Governor Sule, last Thursday, announced the senator representing Nasarawa West, Wadada, as his favored candidate for the 2027 governorship race. The governor portrayed Wadada as a true reflection of the ‘Muje Maha’ philosophy that has shaped his administration’s governance style and inclusive political approach.

“We have to look for people who have the capacity to be able to win this election. Now all the support, now all of us, if we are sincere about the so-called Muje Maha, now it is the period that Muje Maha is Wadada,” Governor Sule had said during the public endorsement.

However, PulseNets learnt that the move did not sit well with several top-ranking party figures in the state, who argued that the decision was rushed and lacked adequate consultation and adherence to due process.

Leading the opposition is former governor and prominent APC leader, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, who openly questioned both the timing and method of the endorsement. He disclosed that he was neither consulted nor informed before Wadada was presented at the Presidential Villa to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“I was never consulted. This is an aberration. It is too hasty at a time when the party has not even released guidelines,” Al-Makura stated.

He further emphasized that although the governor retains the constitutional right to support any aspirant, procedural integrity and stakeholder inclusion must not be sidelined.

“We do not have any problem with Wadada or any other aspirant, but let procedures unfold,” he said.

In response, PulseNets reported that Governor Sule dismissed claims of impropriety, maintaining that his actions were consistent with political traditions in the state. Speaking through his media aide, the governor insisted:

“This is careful, deliberate leadership, not imposition.”

On the decision to present Wadada to President Bola Tinubu, the governor maintained it was both strategic and necessary to keep the party’s national leadership informed.

Meanwhile, a former Inspector General of Police, Abubakar Adamu, who is also a governorship aspirant, made it clear that the endorsement does not amount to an election. He reaffirmed his intention to contest and defeat the governor’s preferred candidate.

Adamu, alongside other aspirants within the APC, is positioning for the governorship race, even as Governor Sule continues to advocate zoning the ticket to Nasarawa West, the senatorial district of Wadada, in the interest of fairness and balance.

Despite the growing controversy, the Majority Caucus of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, under the leadership of Speaker Danladi Jatau, has publicly declared support for Wadada.

“We are fully supporting and backing Senator Wadada as Governor Sule’s successor, we will remain loyal to the party and the governor’s decision,” the caucus stated.

The lawmakers also urged other aspirants to align with Wadada for the sake of party unity and cohesion.

Beyond procedural concerns, PulseNets gathered that questions are being raised regarding Wadada’s readiness for leadership. Political analyst Charles Agum criticized the senator’s recent media appearance, pointing to a lack of depth and policy-driven engagement.

“Instead of focusing on solutions, he seemed more interested in attacking fellow aspirants. That exposed a worrying lack of readiness,” he stated.

PulseNets obtained that several aspirants feel marginalized by the early endorsement, while others are considering open resistance during the party primaries.

Douglas Otaru, a former Nasarawa APC Publicity Secretary, warned that the governor’s decision could have damaging consequences for the party in the state.

According to him, “I will say it again: I won’t stoop too low to criticize Governor Abdullahi Alhaji Sule. He has done well to the best of his conviction, but letting the party run on autopilot for this long has been his biggest mistake.

“Unfortunately, desperados in the party took advantage, hoodwinking him into believing all was well, defying voices of reason like mine.

“His bias, by presenting his friend, Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, as the preferred candidate, automatically disqualifies him from overseeing a fair primary. If he values his integrity, he should consider stepping aside to allow for free, fair, and credible primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.”

Beyond the internal party dispute, the development has reignited long-standing debates around zoning and power rotation in Nasarawa State.

Historically, since the return to democracy in 1999, the governorship position has rotated among the three senatorial districts. However, stakeholders argue that Nasarawa South has dominated the seat, producing leaders such as Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, who served for eight years, and the late Aliyu Akwe Doma, who held office for four years, totaling twelve years for the zone.

Some political actors contend that Nasarawa South should be allowed to complete what they describe as the remaining four years of Doma’s tenure cycle for equity.

This position, however, is facing resistance from a coalition of religious, political, and indigenous stakeholders who argue that fairness should extend beyond senatorial zoning to include federal constituencies that have yet to produce a governor.

The group strongly opposed the emergence of any candidate from the Keffi axis, citing that former governor Abdullahi Adamu also hailed from the same bloc.

Also Read: APC Governors Secure Tinubu’s Approval for Primaries, Affirm Consensus or Direct Option

In a joint statement led by Alhaji Ali Baba Nasarawa and Mallam Abdulrahman Sani Toto, the coalition maintained that the Nasarawa/Toto Federal Constituency remains the only constituency yet to produce a governor since the creation of the state.

“It is unjustifiable to return the governorship ticket to the same federal constituency. Equity demands inclusion,” the group stated.

They further accused Governor Sule of weakening the zoning principle he once supported, warning that such actions could deepen political divisions and provoke electoral backlash.

The coalition also called for a more transparent and inclusive selection process, stressing that any perceived imposition of candidates could erode party unity ahead of the 2027 elections.