Nasarawa succession plan has taken a decisive turn after Governor Abdullahi Sule announced Senator Aliyu Wadada as his preferred candidate to succeed him in the 2027 governorship election. The declaration was made during a meeting with political appointees in Lafia, the state capital.
Succession politics has been a recurring feature in Nasarawa State, where past governors have often influenced the emergence of successors within the ruling party. The state has been governed by different political figures since its creation in 1996, with transitions often shaped by internal party consultations and elite consensus.
Governor Abdullahi Sule, who has been in office since 2019 under the All Progressives Congress (APC), is expected to complete his second term in 2027. Political positioning within the party has therefore begun ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Governor Sule disclosed that the Nasarawa succession plan followed extensive consultations with stakeholders across the state and beyond.
He stated that the process involved narrowing down aspirants to three individuals considered capable of winning the governorship election before arriving at Senator Aliyu Wadada as the preferred choice.
According to the governor, the decision was driven by electoral viability and broad stakeholder engagement.
“We had to look for people who have the capacity to win this election,” Sule was quoted as saying. He added that further consultations were conducted before the final decision was reached.
Senator Aliyu Wadada, who represents Nasarawa West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, recently joined the All Progressives Congress after leaving the Social Democratic Party, a move that has strengthened his position within the ruling party structure.
The governor’s endorsement is already shaping early political alignments within the APC in Nasarawa State as aspirants and stakeholders begin positioning ahead of the 2027 primaries.
The unfolding Nasarawa succession plan is expected to influence internal dynamics within the APC, particularly as party members begin consultations ahead of primaries.
It also underscores the continued role of incumbent governors in shaping succession outcomes within Nigerian states, where political endorsement often carries significant weight.
For stakeholders, the development may accelerate political realignments and negotiations across Nasarawa’s senatorial zones ahead of the election cycle.
