By Rayyanu Bala

As we inch closer to the 2027 elections, the political atmosphere in Nasarawa State is already warming up. Meetings are happening quietly, alliances forming behind closed doors, and familiar faces are reappearing on the political stage. And within the APC, the big question is already being whispered everywhere: Who gets the governorship ticket?

Many are beginning to align behind Muje Maha, but the larger concern remains, who will the APC ultimately choose to carry its flag? Because let’s be honest, Nasarawa cannot afford a gamble in 2027.

This is not the year for political experimentation or emotional decision-making. With so many aspirants showing interest within the APC, the stakes are simply too high for the party to hand its ticket to a newcomer, just someone untested, inexperienced, or unfamiliar with the complexities of governing a state as dynamic as Nasarawa.

Elections, especially in a state like ours, go far beyond winning primaries or delivering attractive speeches. Governance requires a completely different skill set. It demands someone who understands the state’s terrain, its people, its politics, and its long-term aspirations. A newcomer may look charismatic, polished, or even promising but charisma is not governance.

We’ve seen how wrong choices in succession can disrupt progress. Think of Zamfara between Yerima and Shinkafi. Or Kano between Kwankwaso and Ganduje. Or the tensions in Kaduna between El-Rufai and Uba Sani. Or the Rivers crisis involving Wike and Fubara. Even closer home. Then Between Senator Akume and Senator Suswan in Benue. These aren’t just political stories, they are lessons. Leadership needs strategy, continuity, and deep understanding. Picking a governorship successor from within is capable of breeding not only misunderstanding but can also breed contempt.

Eric Hobsbawm, (a British historian) once said, “Destroying continuity weakens society’s ability to progress.” And he was right. Development rarely thrives on sudden disruption, it thrives on continuity. Nasarawa needs someone ready to build on what Governor Abdullahi Sule has already put in place, not someone who will begin learning on the job.

A wrong successor no matter how brilliant can derail years of progress simply due to inexperience or lack of political capital. And right now, voters in Nasarawa are more aware than ever. They want competence. Not slogans, not empty promises but proven capacity.

That’s why the APC must be strategic. Presenting a credible, widely accepted candidate guarantee a stronger victory just as it will also unifies the party internally. The more trusted the candidate, the fewer the conflicts. And the fewer the conflicts, the smoother the path to victory.

No serious political party deliberately risks its own chances by handing over its governorship ticket to a less popular or untested aspirant. Not in 2027. Not with the level of political awareness we see today. Not when the stakes for Nasarawa’s development are this high.

The next governor must have political maturity, a development-driven mindset, and a clear understanding of the state’s social and political realities. Most importantly, the person must have a real, verifiable record of engaging with communities across the state, across the country and across the business world.

And when you place all these criteria side by side, one name consistently stands out: Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu. Across all parameters: experience, popularity, political maturity, and governance capacity, he remains the aspirant the APC can confidently trust to deliver both electoral victory and dependable leadership. A leadership that everyone will be proud of.

Anything outside Senator Wadada may become a costly political miscalculation.

We affirmed this not because we are aligned with Senator Wadada, but because it is a simple fact: he is not new to the game. He has been actively involved since 2019, at a time when none of the current aspirants were even on the scene. When viewed objectively and without sentiment, Wadada stands out as the candidate most qualified to fly the APC flag in 2027.