Sule did no wrong in endorsing Wadada- Nasarawa govt replies Al-Makura

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Nasarawa State Government has defended Governor Abdullahi Sule over his endorsement of Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada as his preferred governorship aspirant for the 2027 election, insisting that the governor acted within established political tradition.

This follows criticism attributed to former governor, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, who reportedly faulted the timing and process leading to the declaration.

In a statement issued by the Governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Hon. Ali Abare, the government maintained that Governor Sule “has done absolutely nothing wrong,” stressing that the same process being criticised was used by Al-Makura himself in selecting his successor.

The statement recalled that Al-Makura had publicly explained how he chose Sule as his successor ahead of other contenders, noting that the decision was accepted without rancour at the time.

It further pointed out that similar precedents existed in the state’s political history, including when former governor Abdullahi Adamu picked the late Aliyu Akwe Doma as his successor.

According to the government, Governor Sule’s approach was even more transparent, involving over a year of consultations with key stakeholders, including investors, youth and women groups, traditional rulers and party officials across the three senatorial zones.

“This is not the conduct of someone who woke up one morning to impose a candidate. This is careful, deliberate leadership,” the statement said.

The government also expressed surprise at Al-Makura’s stance, recalling that he had earlier urged party members to support whoever Sule would eventually select, describing the governor at the time as a leader who would act in the best interest of the state.

On the presentation of Wadada to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the statement dismissed criticisms, noting that it was appropriate to brief the national leader of the party on major political developments in the state.

It clarified that Wadada remains only a “preferred aspirant” and not the party’s candidate, emphasizing that a primary election would still be conducted to determine the flagbearer.

The Nasarawa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), through its chairman, Dr. Aliyu Bello, also affirmed that the governor’s declaration does not preclude other aspirants from contesting.

Drawing parallels, the statement noted that Governor Dapo Abiodun recently announced a preferred successor in Ogun State without attracting similar criticism.

The government called on Al-Makura and other party leaders to maintain unity and support the governor’s decision in the interest of the APC’s success in the 2027 elections.