By Rayyanu Bala

Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu’s historic return to Tudun Kofa Ward on Sunday, September 7, 2025, to officially revalidate his membership with the All Progressives Congress (APC). has stirred political interest across Nasarawa State. His homecoming was indeed, significant for the simple fact that his political journey even before 2019 started in the APC before circumstances led him to seek an alternative platform.

Senator Wadada’s political trajectory is both compelling and strategic. His exit from the APC to contest under the Social Democratic Party (SDP) was driven by the political exigencies of the time, a decision that ultimately paid off. He not only secured the SDP ticket but also won the Senate seat, reaffirming his grassroots appeal, political influence, and the trust the people of Nasarawa State have placed in him.

Now, with his return to the APC, many see this as more than a mere party switch, it is a calculated return to his political base. The APC in Nasarawa State is not just welcoming a member; it is gaining a serving senator with proven electoral strength and a solid record of performance. For Senator Wadada, this move offers a broader platform to advance his developmental agenda and align more closely with the strides of Governor Abdullahi Sule.

Undoubtedly, Senator Wadada’s re-entry will reshape internal dynamics within the APC and may lead to renewed rivalries and jostling for influence. However, the general hope is for healthy competition. A competition that prioritizes the progress of Nasarawa State over personal ambition. The state deserves leadership anchored in vision, unity, and a commitment to development.

Many believe Senator Wadada’s return will inject maturity and inclusiveness into the management of competing interests within the party, much like he did in 2019.

That year, as Governor Abdullahi Sule recently recalled at the GSS Lafia National Convention, Senator Wadada struck a nostalgic chord. Despite being a governorship aspirant himself, Senator Wadada took a bold and strategic step by bringing together all APC governorship aspirants under one roof ahead of the party’s primaries.

Governor Sule commended this uncommon initiative: the formation of an association of governorship aspirants under the APC. While on the surface, it seemed a coalition of competitors, it actually reflected a deeper political philosophy. A philosophy rooted in unity, transparency, and democratic engagement.

What many may not remember or may choose to forget is what transpired at the primaries. Following the results, emotions ran high and ambitions were bruised. Some discontented aspirants attempted to discredit the process and sought to annul the outcome, sensing a trajectory that favoured Governor Sule.

At that critical juncture, it was Senator Wadada, ironically, one of the more prominent and competitive aspirants who stood against the tide of chaos. In a moment where it would have been politically expedient to stoke disunity, he became a voice of reason. Wadada refused to lend his name or influence to any scheme that could plunge the party into crisis and jeopardize APC’s chances in the general election.

Governor Sule’s recollection of the 2019 primaries, therefore, is more than just a tribute to  Senator Wadada’s past gallantry. It serves as a timely reminder to current aspirants eyeing the 2027 governorship ticket: the path to leadership is not merely about winning power, but about how one conducts oneself in the quest for it.

Senator Wadada’s decision in 2019 to place party integrity above personal ambition remains a rare trait in Nigerian politics, where self-interest often takes precedence over collective progress.

With the 2027 elections approaching and Senator Wadada once again considered a top contender for the governorship under the APC banner, the political landscape is evolving. The key question now is: who will play the role Senator Wadada played in 2019?

Governor Sule’s call for the formation of a similar aspirants’ association is both timely and constructive. Such a body could serve as a forum for dialogue, understanding, and a shared commitment to a peaceful and credible process.

However, the stakes are now even higher. With a more politically aware and assertive delegates, any attempt to undermine the democratic process will face greater resistance.

The 2019 precedent when internal efforts to disrupt the primaries were thwarted must stand as both a guide and a warning.

If today’s aspirants genuinely believe in public service, they must be prepared to emulate the political maturity, restraint, and courage Senator Wadada demonstrated in 2019. It is not enough to seek power; one must also defend the integrity of the process that confers it.

As Nasarawa gears up for another election in 2027, the legacy of the 2019 primaries stands as an interesting lesson. It reminds us that leadership is not defined solely by electoral victory, but by the values upheld in the pursuit of that victory.

Senator Wadada has already written the first chapter of that story. The question now is: who among the current aspirants will follow his lead, especially now that the tides seem to favoured him?