A coalition of youth leaders from various ethnic nationalities in Nasarawa State has voiced strong opposition to Governor Abdullahi Sule's endorsement of Senator Ahmed Aliyu-Wadada as his preferred successor for the 2027 governorship election.
Background of the endorsement
Governor Sule recently declared Senator Aliyu-Wadada, who represents Nasarawa West Senatorial District, as his chosen candidate. He called on supporters and All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders to back Wadada ahead of the party's primary elections.
Ethnic groups raise concerns
Speaking at a press conference in Lafia, the state capital, Silas Dauda Yileni, President of Bassa Youth and Coordinating Chairman of the Forum of National Youth Presidents, criticized the endorsement. He stated that the governor failed to consult widely before making the announcement.
Yileni noted that while the governor has the constitutional right to express a preference, the chosen candidate must emerge through a transparent democratic process. He recalled that in 2019, former Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura endorsed Sule only after due process, where multiple aspirants contested in a primary election.
“It is disturbing that the governor made this significant declaration without broad consultation and without involving the ethnic nationalities,” Yileni said. “We demand a fair playing field for all APC governorship aspirants to ensure that a candidate emerges through a transparent and democratic primary process.”
Rejection of zoning and imposition
The group also rejected the idea of zoning, stating that it has never been a legitimate practice in Nasarawa State. They emphasized that aspirants often contest against strong opponents from different zones, and that zoning is unconstitutional, being merely an informal agreement.
“The people of the zone must be empowered to select their preferred candidate without external imposition,” Yileni added. The coalition demanded an indigenous governorship candidate from the APC and other political parties, regardless of religion. They warned that if a non-indigenous candidate is imposed, they would mobilize their communities against what they termed an injustice.
“Our loyalty lies first with our people, not with a political party,” Yileni declared. He urged all citizens to refrain from making provocative or disparaging remarks and to remain committed to safeguarding the state's political future.
