By Dr. Sulaiman Abdulwahab Sulaiman, CNA

The outcome of the APC gubernatorial primaries in Nasarawa State was made public yesterday (22nd May 2026). The overwhelming victory of Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada has once again reaffirmed the supremacy of the people’s will over elite conspiracy, political manipulation and selfish ambition.

Senator Wadada emerged victorious with a commanding 195,285 votes, defeating six other aspirants across the 147 electoral wards of the state. Former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu Abubakar, came a distant second with 39,675 votes, while other contenders recorded insignificant figures that clearly reflected the mood and direction of APC members across the state.

The results, declared by the Chairman of the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee, Professor Theodore Bala Maiyaki, SAN, confirmed not only the transparency of the exercise but also the overwhelming acceptance of Senator Wadada among party faithful. Despite isolated incidents in a few wards, the committee maintained that the margin of victory was too wide to be affected by the cancelled or suspended votes. Security agencies, INEC observers and civil society groups all commended the peaceful conduct of the primaries.

More importantly, the exercise exposed the sharp contrast between genuine grassroots popularity and the artificial political hype manufactured by a few desperate power brokers. While Senator Wadada enjoyed broad-based support from party members and stakeholders across the state, some individuals, driven by personal interests and political survival, pushed former IGP Adamu into a race many already knew was disconnected from the political realities on ground.

It is against this background that one must critically examine the motives of those who misled the former police chief into a contest that eventually turned into a humiliating political miscalculation.

Beyond the victory of Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, the outcome of the APC governorship primary has also exposed the gradual collapse of political godfatherism in Nasarawa State politics. What happened on May 22nd may eventually be remembered as the climax of political dominance of Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura.

For fifteen years (2011-2026), Senator Al-Makura remained a formidable force in the political calculations of the state. However, the recent APC primaries have delivered a different message. Virtually all candidates associated with or openly backed by him during the primaries failed to secure victory. The greatest and most symbolic of these defeats was the failure of former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu Abubakar, in the governorship contest.

The primary election became more than a contest between aspirants; it turned into a political test of strength between Senator Al-Makura and Governor Abdullahi Alhaji Sule. While Governor Sule openly endorsed Senator Wadada as his preferred aspirant, Senator Al-Makura threw his weight behind IGP Adamu Abubakar. In the end, the outcome spoke louder than political propaganda, social media noise and orchestrated endorsements.

The inability of Senator Al-Makura to deliver even a single major victory for his preferred candidates raises serious questions about the future of his political influence in the state. Politics is ultimately about relevance, structure and the ability to mobilize support. The results suggest that the once-powerful political machinery associated with Senator Al-Makura may have lost its grip on the grassroots. With age no longer on his side, political retirement may now be the most honourable and realistic option available to him. The political roots upon which his grandstanding and influence were built appear to have been significantly weakened.

Another important lesson from the primaries is the flawed political approach adopted by IGP Adamu Abubakar himself. Coming from a security and command background, he appeared to approach politics with the mentality of a command structure, where directives are expected to be obeyed without resistance. Unfortunately, politics operates differently. Politics is built on relationships, consultations, patience, negotiation and grassroots acceptance – not command and control.

From the onset, IGP Adamu Abubakar’s political approach has largely remained disconnected from the mainstream structure and culture of the APC in Nasarawa State. From the beginning of his political journey, he never appeared to have fully integrated himself into the party’s network and internal dynamics. Rather than building wide political alliances and sustaining cordial relationships with party stakeholders, he was often intolerant. This disposition created distance between him and many influential figures within the party. Nevertheless, the setback does not necessarily signal the end of his political future. If he is willing to reassess his methods, embrace wider consultations, cultivate stronger political relationships and adapt to the realities of grassroots politics, he may still carve out a meaningful place for himself in the political landscape of the state.

More damaging to the IGP’s ambition was the calibre of individuals surrounding him politically. Many of those who positioned themselves as his advisers were either non-politicians or half-baked politicians with little understanding of the dynamics of Nasarawa politics. Rather than guide him properly, they allegedly misled him with exaggerated claims of political strength and influence. Their aggressive tactics, empty boasts and constant misinformation created a false sense of confidence around his campaign.

As a newcomer to partisan politics, IGP Adamu appeared to trust these individuals completely. Unfortunately, they dragged his political debut into troubled waters. The 39,675 votes eventually recorded by his camp were clearly not commensurate with the noise, media hype, repeated false assurances and enormous financial resources reportedly deployed during the project.

Indeed, judging by the voting pattern, the exercise could best be described as a “Lafia Project.” Out of the 39,675 votes recorded by the former IGP, approximately 15,895 reportedly came from Lafia alone, exposing the narrow geographical reach of the project despite the massive investments and statewide media projections. The outcome has now made it necessary for the former police chief to reassess not only his political strategy but also the quality of people around him.

Congratulations to Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada and the APC family

Dr. Sulaiman Abdulwahab Sulaiman, CNA
FACSA (USA), FCIFCN, FCIM, FICAN, FICEN
Former Executive Secretary, Nasarawa State Scholarship Board
23rd May, 2026