By Francis Nansak Lafia
Without mincing words and pursuing selfish gains ,the blind and the deaf knew that Engineer Abdullahi Sule had no intention to anoint a successor ,until the current scurble, ranging from zoning to rumour of a defector into the ruling APC, hit the political space as the likely successor,pre arranged long before now.
Poised for unity , cohesion among party stakeholders and stability in the state , Governor Abdullahi Sule has been pressured yet not circumbing to pressure is set to anoint his preferred candidate that can fly the party’s ticket for the 2027 general election.
From Nasarawa State political history since 1999, outgoing governors like Dr Abdullahi Adamu,single handedly brought his successor,Alhaji Aliyu Akwe of blessed memory,who served one term , only Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura was without a godfather for anointment and he succeeded as governorship candidate and later was sworn in as Governor in 2011.
In 2018 Senator Tanko Al-Makura took a bold step and anointed the incumbent governor Abdullahi Sule against odds by breaking the jinx which ended up in balancing the imbalance in zoning .
Engineer Abdullahi Sule from the Northern Senatorial District of the state, had a stiffed contest with other aspirants from the western and southern senatorial zones ,but because the then governor Senator Al-Makura was prepared for a successor ,he ensured that other aspirants rally round the party candidate, Engineer Abdullahi Sule.
The success of Engineer Abdullahi Sule in the general election can not be taken away from the immediate past governor and how senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu chaired the campaign train.
And as the political space is becoming tense and moving towards the primary election, in Nasarawa State,the ruling party have not less than a dozen politicians who are set to run with hope of succeeding in the April primary election.
But talks around consensus candidature ,zoning or no zoning hots up. This is obviously intriguing and causing tension amongst the aspirants,to avoid the unforeseen circumstances that may arise from the primary,the body language of the governor indicates that he will be left with no option than naming his successor,a position he never wanted taking even though he vehemently prefer zoning arrangement as the western senatorial zone was his favoured region where his successor should emerged.
Now the Cruz of the matter is who are the top 5 Aspirants that Engineer Abdullahi Sule is likely to pick his successor from? Majority of these gladiator are from the western senatorial zone,with one from the Northern Senatorial District,coming from a top rumour of his federal might making the rounds .
Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu without doubting is one person to look out for , having a long standing relationship with the governor and playing a significant role during the 2019 general election.
Dr Fiasal Shuiab is another politician to beat, because his likely anointment May come as a compensation due his unbeatable medical outreaches as part of Engineer Abdullahi Sule’s campaign strategy in 2023.
Dr Mohammed Musa Maikaya can not be undermined,he has a strong approach to the politics of Nasarawa,consistent to his believes and as a party man ,he is dogged in partisan politics.
Dr, Ahmed Musa is another politician with a firm principle and a easy going personality ,it is believe that he is likely to succeed the outgoing governor Sule.
Then comes the big talk about the former PDP governorship candidate,Dr David Emmanuel Ombugadu , is the news making the rounds the truth? If yes, how fair is the party to other aspirants who had supported the growth and progress of the party all this while?
The best if all the talks and bickering about 2026 primary and who succeeds engineer Sule in 2027 is key to the ruling APC,whoever , engineer Abdullahi Sule anoints as successor demands the support of others without acrimony,protest and anti party posture.
But all things being equal a free fair direct primary is the respected democratic formula for any leader ,governor and the masses to consider.
