By Rayyanu Bala

As Nasarawa State edges closer to the 2027 general elections, the political temperature is already rising. At the centre of the current discourse is the contentious issue of zoning, a political strategy that has long defined power rotation and inclusion in the state. Recent developments at the All Progressives Congress (APC) Nasarawa South Senatorial District Zonal Stakeholders Engagement which was held Today Monday 22, September, 2025 at the banquet hall of government house Lafia, have revealed both unity and some elements of fractures in opinions, raising questions about political alignment, party loyalty, and personal interests.

Governor Abdullahi A. Sule, who served as the Special Guest of Honour at the Southern stakeholders’ meeting, finds himself at the epicenter of this evolving political landscape. His presence was a reminder of his influence and the strategic importance of his next political move.

As the party begins early preparations for 2027, the issue of zoning is no longer a behind-the-scenes conversation; it is now front and center.

Perhaps the most telling outcome of the engagement was the unified position taken by the Keffi Zone. In a rare show of political harmony, stakeholders from this zone, including National Assembly and State Assembly members, local government chairmen, and appointees of the Governor, rallied behind Governor Sule and their zone’s leadership. Their message was clear: they are in full support of zoning the next governorship to the Western zone.

More importantly, they are doing so in a coordinated and strategic manner, sending a powerful signal of cohesion and loyalty. This unified front strengthens their negotiating power and positions them as a formidable bloc within the APC’s internal politics. Regardless of whether or not the zoning debate swings in their favour, the Keffi Zone has already scored a political victory by speaking with one voice.

In contrast, the Lafia Zone presented a less cohesive front. Although a majority of stakeholders stated their willingness to defer to Governor Sule’s decision, this posture, while seemingly diplomatic also reveals an undercurrent of uncertainty and lack of coordination. Aside from few stakeholders who held different opinion, there was no clear consensus on the zoning matter.

By choosing to “wait and see,” Lafia stakeholders may be undercutting their own political leverage. Their hesitation to take a firm position reflects a missed opportunity to shape the zoning conversation proactively. In politics, silence or neutrality can often be interpreted as weakness or disinterest.

All eyes are now on Governor Abdullahi A. Sule. The responsibility to arbitrate the zoning debate has unofficially, but significantly been placed on his shoulders. Both Keffi and Lafia have, in their own ways, handed him the gavel to decide the future direction of the party.

The position which Governor Sule finds himself today is a testament to his influence, but it is also a delicate burden. Any decision he makes will potentially reshape alliances within the aspirants which it hope will be for the good of all.

Governor Sule must tread carefully. While unity within the APC is paramount, so is fairness and the perception of equity among the state’s diverse zones. His decision must balance political pragmatism with the broader goal of maintaining party cohesion and public trust.

The Nasarawa South Stakeholders Engagement has made one thing abundantly clear: the battle for 2027 is already underway, and zoning will be a central theme. The Keffi Zone has emerged as a disciplined and strategic player, while Lafia’s ambiguity leaves room for internal introspection.

In the end, it will fall to Governor Sule to chart a path that preserves the APC’s dominance while ensuring that all zones feel fairly treated. His ability to navigate this sensitive issue could define not just his legacy, but the political future of Nasarawa State.

The game has started. And in politics, early moves often determine final outcomes.
However, wherever the pendulum swings, Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu’s position as the frontrunner will remain unchanged as he has already strategically positioned his structures across all three zones. So, zoning or no zoning, he is firmly the frontrunner.