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๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌ Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Nasarawa Gov: Sule Endorses Wadada, Ex-IG Adamu Vows Contest

From The Punch · (11h ago) English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has endorsed Senator Ahmed Wadada as his preferred candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
  • Governor Sule cited Wadada's embodiment of the 'Muje Maha' spirit and extensive consultations as reasons for the endorsement.
  • Former Inspector General of Police Abubakar Adamu has vowed to contest the governorship despite the endorsement, challenging the zoning arrangement.

In Nasarawa State, a significant political maneuver has unfolded as Governor Abdullahi Sule publicly declared his endorsement of Senator Ahmed Wadada for the governorship in 2027. This announcement, made during a meeting with political appointees and agency heads in Lafia, signals the governor's preferred successor and is presented as the culmination of a year-long, wide-ranging consultation process. The governor emphasized that Wadada embodies the 'Muje Maha' spirit, a principle guiding his administration's inclusive governance approach, suggesting a desire to maintain continuity in political philosophy and practice.

We had to look for people who have the capacity to be able to win this election.

โ€” Governor Abdullahi SuleExplaining the criteria for selecting a governorship candidate.

The governor detailed the rigorous selection process, which involved narrowing down aspirants based on their capacity to win elections, followed by further consultations. This methodical approach, he asserted, led to the final decision in favor of Senator Wadada. Governor Sule also highlighted the maturity shown by other aspirants from the Nasarawa West senatorial district, who reportedly agreed to support the chosen candidate. Furthermore, he addressed the sensitive issue of equitable distribution of elective positions, agreeing to a proposal that would balance the interests of the two federal constituencies within the zone, ensuring that if the governorship goes to one, other key positions would be allocated to the other.

After exhaustive consultations, the field was eventually narrowed to three aspirants, each of whom was considered capable of winning.

โ€” Governor Abdullahi SuleDescribing the process of selecting potential candidates.

However, the governor's endorsement has not gone unchallenged. Former Inspector General of Police Abubakar Adamu has declared his intention to contest the governorship, directly opposing Sule's preferred candidate. Adamu's stance underscores the internal contestation within the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the gubernatorial ticket. While Governor Sule champions zoning and inclusivity based on the 'Muje Maha' principle, Adamu's vow to contest indicates that political calculations and personal ambitions remain central to the state's political landscape, setting the stage for a potentially contentious primary election.

Further consultations were conducted before a final decision was reached in favour of Senator Wadada.

โ€” Governor Abdullahi SuleAnnouncing the final endorsement.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.