By Rayyanu Bala

At the just-concluded APC stakeholders’ meeting held at the Aliyu Akwe Banquet Hall, Lafia where consensus was adopted for the forthcoming Congresses, Governor Abdullahi Sule reaffirmed his stance on zoning. He emphasized that he is a product of zoning and would not do anything to undermine it. The governor further stated that zoning remains a key factor in maintaining stability in the state.

Of- course, since Nasarawa State was created, there has been an unwritten but widely respected understanding regarding the rotation of the governorship among the three senatorial zones. This understanding was not because it’s fashionable, but because it works. Just as Governor Sule has observed, rotation has helped keep the peace, reduce suspicion, and give every part of the state a sense of ownership in the Nasarawa project.

So far, that agreement has largely been honoured. Nasarawa West took the first turn and served eight years. Nasarawa South has had twelve years. Nasarawa North, under Governor Abdullahi Sule, will complete its eight years by 2027.

By every fair standard, the pendulum should swing back to Nasarawa West. Anything else would be seen as unfair and unjust to Nasarawa West

One other thing that we must all realised is that party politics is not just about winning elections; it’s about managing expectations and protecting unity. So when people believe the system is fair, they cooperate. When they feel cheated, resentment will come in. Nasarawa has enjoyed relative political stability because leaders, respected zoning and now
breaking this zoning understanding in 2027, would send the wrong signal. A signal that agreements only matter when they are convenient. And Nasarawa state can’t risk that tension now.

Luckily enough, Governor Abdullahi Sule understands this reality hence his reaffirmation of his stance on zoning.

Preserving zoning should not be seen as a sign of disloyalty to anyone but must be seen as a sign of keeping the state together. In fact if anything, preservation of zoning is a political wisdom.

By Governor Sule action on zoning he has invariably, neutralizes any agitations from the other two zones, just as the action has unifies the party base, and gives it a smooth runway.

However, APC as a ruling party in Nasarawa state must know that winning election convincingly is central and is the biggest goal in 2027. Therefore as I see it, this is where the strategy for winning the election must override any form of sentiment.

The candidate the party will put forward must be strong. And this is where Distinguished Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada comes in.

Senator Wadada should not be seen as a sentimental choice, but rather as a practical candidate who can delivered.

Senator Wadada has three things every serious party will look for:
Ability – He understands governance. His years in the National Assembly have given him legislative depth, negotiation skills, and policy experience that translate directly to executive leadership.

Capacity – Beyond politics, Wadada is successful businessman with interests across key sectors. He knows how systems work, how to manage people, and how to deliver result. This is why he is widely referred to as “The Links Man.”

Connection – This is crucial. Wadada is not boxed into one zone or one voting bloc. His reach cuts across Nasarawa West, North, and South. He has friends, followers, and goodwill statewide, something no serious party can afford to ignore in a competitive election such as the one we are about to be confronted in 2017. In short, Wadada is electable. One thing we must bear in mind here is that elections are not won on zoning alone; they are won on acceptance. Just as the adage goes:
A smooth ride beats a risky fight

Governor Sule’s legacy will be better protected through a smooth ride by a successor who can unify the party, retain its structures, and expand its appeal.

Adopting Wadada by APC in 2027, will
reassures Nasarawa West that justice is being done.
It reassures other zones that competence is not being sacrificed.
And it reassures voters that APC is thinking ahead, not just thinking aloud.

As I said earlier on,
this is not about sentiment. It is about fairness, stability, and victory. Political strategy points clearly to Ahmed Aliyu Wadada. And party unity points to early, decisive direction from Governor Abdullahi Sule and the APC.

With Wadada as the right choice, it can be a smooth ride to Government House for the APC