By Rayyanu Bala

Politics is often described as a game of competition, and in any contest, there must be a winner and a loser. Not everyone can win, just as not everyone can lose. However, the true test of a winner lies in their ability to embrace and accommodate those who lost, because winning and losing are only temporary realities. A loser today may become a winner tomorrow, and vice versa. Therefore, the ability to bring people together for a common purpose is one of the hallmarks of effective political leadership.
This is why Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu’s recent call for unity following his victory in the APC governorship primary election deserves attention.
By declaring that “the primary election has come and gone” and urging party members to focus on reconciliation and collective action, Wadada has demonstrated an admirable quality of leadership. By calling on his opponents to unite and work with him, he has shown that he places the interests of Nasarawa State above personal ambitions.
Understandably, primary elections often leave some aspirants disappointed, as has happened in Nasarawa State. That, of course, is the nature of democratic competition. History has repeatedly shown that no political party can move forward if it remains trapped in the divisions created by internal contests. General elections are won not by fractured groups pulling in different directions, but by united teams working toward a common goal.
This is the essence of Wadada’s message. He is reminding party faithful that there is far more to gain through unity than through lingering resentment. A divided house expends its energy fighting itself, while a united house channels its strength toward achieving meaningful results. For Nasarawa State, the stakes are too high for political actors to remain locked in post-primary disagreements.
History offers several examples of leaders who understood this principle. One of the most celebrated was former United States President Abraham Lincoln. After securing the Republican Party’s nomination and ultimately winning the presidency, Lincoln did something remarkable. Rather than excluding his former rivals, he brought many of them into his administration, creating what historians famously referred to as a “Team of Rivals.” Lincoln understood that lasting success required inclusion, reconciliation, and the collective strength of people who had once stood on opposing sides.
Similarly, former South African President Nelson Mandela emerged from one of the most divisive periods in his country’s history with a message not of revenge, but of national unity. Mandela recognized that the future could only be secured when former opponents chose cooperation over conflict.
Wadada’s appeal to his opponents in the just-concluded APC primary election follows the same logic, albeit within the context of party politics in Nasarawa State. He understands that after every contest comes a moment when leaders must shift from campaigning to consensus-building. That moment is now.
All political victories are sustained through unity. A united APC stands a better chance of consolidating its achievements, presenting a coherent vision to the people, and delivering meaningful development across Nasarawa State. Conversely, internal conflicts only weaken the party and distract from governance and service to the people.
What makes Wadada’s intervention significant is its focus on the future rather than the past. Instead of dwelling on who won or lost the primary election, he is asking party members to think about what can be achieved together. Better roads, improved schools, quality healthcare, expanded economic opportunities, and a more prosperous Nasarawa State will not emerge from political grudges. They will emerge from cooperation, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to progress.
Wadada’s message is both timely and profound. Political contests may divide people temporarily, but sincere leadership must reunite them afterward. Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu has chosen the path of reconciliation, and that is a path worth embracing.
For Nasarawa State and the APC, the lesson is clear: there is far more to gain in unity than in division. As the senator rightly puts it, united we stand, united we win.