By Rayyanu Bala

Let me begin by stating from the outset that Lafia is my hometown, and I have every reason to protect and promote its interests, come rain or shine. I also believe that no one can claim to be more patriotic to the cause of Lafia than some of us. Therefore, for those of us who are currently agitating for a shift of power to the Western Zone, we are, in fact, being more patriotic than those pushing for a return of power to Nasarawa South, specifically to Lafia town, because by their actions they are directly putting Lafia and its people at risk of widespread animosity.

Politics in Nasarawa State has never been won by sentiment alone, and it certainly has never been won from a single local government area. That’s why the so-called “Lafia Project” no matter how loudly it is marketed, feels disconnected from reality.
The first problem is simple arithmetic. Nasarawa has thirteen local government areas, and Lafia is just one of them. Yes, Lafia is the state capital. Yes, it carries symbolic weight. But symbolism does not equal votes, and influence does not override constitutional equality. A voter in Toto Wamba, Doma, Akwanga, or Awe counts just as much as a voter in Lafia. Anyone pretending otherwise is either ignoring history or deliberately misleading supporters.

Governorship elections in Nasarawa have always been about coalition-building. Winners emerge by stitching together support across zones, ethnic groups, and local governments. That’s the political culture of the state. Any project that appears to be built around “Lafia first, others later” is bound to raise suspicion, and rightly so. People outside Lafia will naturally ask: Where do we fit into this plan?
And that question leads directly to the second, deeper issue: zoning and political balance.

Like it or not, zoning is an unwritten rule that carries real weight in Nasarawa politics. It may not be in the constitution, but it lives in the political consciousness of the people.

The Southern Senatorial Zone, where Lafia is located, held the governorship for twelve straight years before 2019. Of the 12 years, a Lafia man served 8 years. That’s not ancient history. It’s recent enough to shape expectations, alliances, and voter attitudes today.

So when a project emerges that seems to push power back to the same zone so soon, it doesn’t just face opposition, it faces skepticism.

Other zones are not asleep. They are politically alert, increasingly organized, and very aware of how long they’ve waited for executive power. Ignoring that reality is a miscalculation.

Supporters of the “Lafia Project” might argue that competence should trump zoning. In theory, that sounds appealing. In practice, it’s incomplete. Politics is not just about who is qualified; it’s about who is acceptable to the broadest coalition of voters.

When large sections of the state feel politically sidelined, even the most qualified candidate cannot secure a winning votes.
.
There’s also a perception problem that can’t be wished away. A “Lafia project” is a personal project rather than a genuine statewide vision. And since that perception has sets in, it becomes very hard to shake. Voters are also quick to sense when a project is about who wants power rather than what the state needs, it then becomes a very big problem.

This is why calling the “Lafia Project” dead on arrival as some are saying very loudly isn’t exaggeration, it’s a realistic assessment. Without deliberate outreach to all local governments, without clear sensitivity to zoning concerns, and without a message that truly resonates beyond Lafia, the project lacks the foundation required to survive a statewide contest.

Nasarawa voters are pragmatic. They understand the politics of numbers, balance, and inclusion. They know that no one becomes governor by appealing to one town, one zone, or one sentiment. History has shown that again and again.

If there is a lesson here, it’s not anti-Lafia or anti-any individual. It’s pro-realism. Any serious governorship ambition in Nasarawa must be built on broad consensus, fairness, and an honest reading of the state’s political zoning arrangement. Anything less may only generate noise, but it won’t generate victory.
And in the end, politics is not about noise. It’s about numbers, trust, and timing. On all three counts, the “Lafia Project” falls short.

And for the people of Nasarawa State to vote for another candidate from Lafia after having voted for a Lafia man from 2011 to 2019, is unimaginable. Thus, the so-called “Lafia project” is a fallacy and will remain so, at least until 2035.