By Francis Nansak Lafia
Like never before, at the moment tension heightens around politics in Nasarawa State as the big boys, especially from the ruling All Progressive Congress are seeking support ahead of 2027. While this may be likened to a dream, it is becoming tougher with each passing day.
Ahead of Governor Abdullahi Sule’s remaining Three years in office as governor of Nasarawa State, the political atmosphere is such a different one from the previous years where governance for the past incumbent governors was uninterrupted by those wishing to succeed them. This time around Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration of mot for his dexterity in delivering his promises to the people of the state is undergoing serious political wrestling on who become the next governor of the state after his exit on 29th May 2027.
With the insurmountable interest and drive already on the ground by those consulting secretly and even in the know of the ruling party APC, as well as the opposition PDP, facts have emerged that come 2026 when the parties primaries shall be conducted it will be unhidden as st various party levels these political gladiators will ensure they got the favor of their party to own the ticket in an attempt to succeed Engineer Abdullahi Sule.
Meanwhile, amongst those making frantic moves that have become publicly pronounced is Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, the current senator representing Nasarawa West Senatorial District. Honourable Barrister Mohammad Hassan Abdullahi, former and the immediate past Federal Minister of Environment, Alhaji Abu Giza from the southern Senatorial zone.Hon, Dr. David Emmanuel, a former House of Representative member who represented Nasarawa North Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, and two-time governorship candidate of the People’s
Democratic Party in 2019 and 2023.
Also on the list are the current Accountant General of the state, Dr. Ahmed Musa, a one-time speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, and Dr. Faisal Shuiab the immediate past Executive Secretary, NPHCDA, although it is been rumored that Dr Faisal has the blessings of the governor to be the gubernatorial candidate, it is, however, a tasking challenge on the APC should this come to fruition, because the governor’s choice if true is not a popular politician like his peers.
For Alhaji Abu Giza, his greatest unlocker while the scheming last is that the APC had already taken his side by zoning the position to the western Senatorial District, whereas he is from the Southern part of the state,a zone that had enjoyed the support of the people in the state for Twelve years, indicating that out of the Three Senatorial Districts Nasarawa South had produced Two Governors at different point at a stretch, these are late Dr. Aliyu Akwe Doma of the PDP, he governed the state for Four years and was defeated in 2011 by Alhaji Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, also from the same zone under the defunct CPC, that later merged with other political parties in 2017 to form what is today All Progressive Congress APC, Al-Makura spent Eight years in power as governor of Nasarawa State, so for Abu Giza, the chances of his waves is very slim and undesirable.
Nevertheless, Abu Giza is creating unprecedented support, especially amongst his people of Nasarawa South, except he decided to switch over to another minority opposition camp for his ambition to take stool on the soil of the solid mineral state.
Another aspiring personality who at the moment is occupying the accounting office of the state is Right Honourable Musa Ahmed, the former speaker of the state House of Assembly and the Accountant General of the state under Governor Sule’s administration. A recent report of an event shows that the forum of former state house legislators has endorsed him to be the gubernatorial aspirant and if possible Engineer Abdullahi Sule’s successor comes 2027.
However, a section of the former legislators have kicked against the move raised in a motion by one of the former lawmakers but was shut down by Honourable Kwarra, a former information commissioner, leaving the endorsement of the accountant General in jeopardy. Ahmed Musa is a seasoned politician and the first speaker in the state assembly who attempted an impeachment on a sitting governor but didn’t hold water He was a PDP faithful until 2019, when he decamped along with his colleagues to support engineer Abdullahi Sule whose developmental stride according to them on the defection note, does not warrant parallel partisanship.
Be that as it may and in the phase of all these permutations the likes of Honourable Mohammad Hassan Abdullahi, Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada and David Ombugadu are the dominating political figures that are making serious waves, setting the political atmosphere of the state in confusion and height of anxiety.
The trios are politicians no political party would want to undermine. However, the chances of the PDP consistent candidate David Ombugadu are under friction and uncertainty for reason of the party’s zoning formula of its State Working Committee SWC, at the end of the day, the state Chairman of the party would be elected from Nasarawa North, where their preferred aspirant for the 2027 governorship ticket is also from, David Ombugadu may likely lose his favor of enjoying the PDP support over the years.
Reliably, this newspaper gathered that Senator Philip Gyunka has been tipped to contest for the position of the PDP state Chairman, coming from Nasarawa North where David Ombugadu is also a constituent. Another camp favorable to David Ombugadu prefers that the northern Senatorial District, be given the chance to run for the governorship position, they argue that, since Nasarawa West had produced the first governor in 1999, who is Senator Abdullahi Adamu under the PDP and the Southern zone had Dr Aliyu Akwe Doma, it is the turn of the Northern Senatorial to produce a governor under the platform of the party, this has however set confusion amongst the PDP family in the state.
For Honourable Mohammad Hassan Abdullahi, an erudite politician, who has been in the race for various political positions at different times in the state, his desire to be governor of Nasarawa State come 2027 is a fierce move that has engulfed the local government areas of the state. Those rally around him admired him for his principles, patience, and determination in the discharge of his duty.
Barrister Mohammad Hassan Abdullahi from his wealth of experiences as one-time attorney general of the state, special adviser on special duties, secretary of the state government, and his last position as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, was marked with prudence and diligence in service of the state and the country.
His supporters are of the view that with him as the number one citizen of the state, there will be enhanced development and inclusive governance to match the already established development in the state, as well as the promotion of equality across diverse backgrounds. What has been unclear to many is whether will the former minister contest the position under the APC. Although he has not made any formal notification on leaving the party pundits in the state a erred that from the body language of the dogged politician, he seems not comfortable with happenings in the APC, as his absence in most functions in the state speaks volumes.
Another politician to look out for is the incumbent senator representing Nasarawa West, Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada whose pattern of leadership knows no bounds. Aliyu Wadada has carved a nitch in his political journey and career, first as a House of Representative Member who represented Kokona, Keffi, and Karu Local Government Area at the National Assembly, he is one politician who has earned the support of thousands of youths in the state with his often open hands in support of various developments in the state.
He was the first House of reps committee chairman on the capital market, a fate that led to the rise of several business moguls in the country doing business abroad. Wadada was also chairman Peugeot Automobile Nigeria, and in 2023 when he contested for the Senate though jilted by the APC, decided to dump the party and pitch camp with the SDP where he was elected overwhelmingly into the Senate, he is today Senate Committee Chairman on Public Account.
Wadada has demonstrated capacity as the people’s representative, connecting with all stakeholders in the state to be governor come 2027.
These are all respected citizens and caliber politicians that have in one way or impacted citizens of the state at different levels, their quest to be Engineer Abdullahi Sule’s successor has become a daring adventure at the moment in the state to be handled with kits gloves .each of them has a dream for the betterment of the state which has left the people in confusion do much that anxiety grips stakeholders in the state.