By Rayyanu Bala

As INEC pegs June 2026 as the deadline for party primaries, the political clock in Nasarawa State has started ticking loudly. With barely six months left, the discussions within the APC are becoming less about if and more about who. And while the state may look calm on the surface, beneath lies a flurry of silent calculations, coded moves, and subtle alignments. In fact, everyone seems to be watching everyone, yet, above all, everyone is watching Governor Abdullahi A. Sule.

Whether we admit it openly or whisper it in corners, Governor Sule remains the single most influential figure in shaping Nasarawa’s 2027 succession. The question quietly running through the minds of party members is simple: Who will Governor Sule support to take over from him? And perhaps more importantly, how will he make that choice without upsetting some interests within the APC?

But leadership, as we all know, is not the art of pleasing everyone. Perfection is a luxury life doesn’t offer, and no leader, no matter how careful, can completely avoid stepping on toes. Governor Sule will have to make a bold choice, and such choice must be rooted not in sentiment but in competence, political strength, and loyalty. Because at the end of the day, these are the qualities that sustain a party beyond one administration.

Interestingly, those eyeing the APC ticket are not strangers to the governor. They are his allies, men who have walked with him, worked with him, and shared political trenches with him. But among them, one figure stands out with a different kind of closeness and that figure is Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu.

Wadada’s connection to Governor Sule wasn’t on political appointments, government positions, or administrative convenience. The connection between Governor Sule and Senator Wadada is built on years of respect, shared political journey, and mutual trust. And in the often unpredictable world of politics, the kind of loyalty demonstrates by Wadada to Governor Sule becomes a rare commodity.

Let us at this juncture, take a brief walk down memory lane.

In 2019, Wadada contested the APC governorship primary and lost. Many in his position would have revolted or destabilised the party. But Wadada didn’t. He accepted the outcome, praised the transparency of the process, and threw his full weight behind Sule. That is not just maturity; it is loyalty in its purest form.

In 2023, when Wadada defected to the SDP to pursue his Senate ambition, he still refused to turn his political strength against Governor Sule. No bitterness. No sabotage. No vengeful mobilisation of supporters. In fact, he openly ensured that Governor Sule’s re-election remained solid in strategic constituencies. How many Nigerian politicians can boldly boast such restraint and consistency?

This is why many observers believe Wadada occupies a special space in  Governor Sule’s heart. Wadada is not simply an ally; he is a willing ally. There is an old political saying that goes: “A willing ally is always safer to rely on than a recruited ally.” And in Wadada’s case, the saying fits perfectly.

As party Primaries is just around the corner and Governor Sule weighs his options, the politics of loyalty will inevitably come into play. Competence matters. Political strength matters. But loyalty, the kind that doesn’t flinch in the face of loss or personal ambition, matters just as much, perhaps even more.

If loyalty still counts, and it should, then recognising it is not only just but politically wise. And when Governor Sule is set to take his decision, it should be clear to him that among all his allies, none embody loyalty, competence, and political strength quite like Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu.