Fresh divisions have surfaced in the Nasarawa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress after Governor Abdullahi Sule endorsed Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada as his preferred successor for the 2027 governorship election, a move that has sparked disagreement among party leaders and aspirants.
The dispute began after Sule publicly backed Wadada, a senator representing Nasarawa West, during a political gathering last week, presenting him as the candidate he believes can lead the party into the next election. What appeared to be an early succession move has since unsettled the ruling party, with some stakeholders questioning both the timing and the process behind the endorsement.
Former governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura has emerged as one of the leading voices opposing the move, saying he was not consulted before the endorsement was made public. His camp believes the decision came too early, especially when party guidelines for the governorship race have yet to be released.
The disagreement has widened cracks within the party, with some members arguing that the governor should have allowed the process to develop through consultations before openly backing a candidate. Critics within the party fear the move may trigger resistance during the primaries and create avoidable tension ahead of the election.
Governor Sule has defended his action, insisting there was no imposition and that his support for Wadada follows political tradition. His camp maintains the endorsement was a leadership decision aimed at building early unity and giving direction to the party.
The controversy deepened after former Inspector General of Police Abubakar Adamu, who is also seeking the governorship ticket, made it clear he would remain in the race despite the endorsement. His position has added to growing signs that the APC primary may witness a fierce contest rather than a smooth consensus.
While some party figures have resisted the governor’s move, members of the Majority Caucus in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly have backed Wadada and urged other aspirants to support him in the interest of party unity.
Still, the debate has moved beyond endorsement politics into wider arguments over zoning and power rotation. Governor Sule has maintained that fairness demands the governorship shift to Nasarawa West, the district where Wadada comes from. But some political actors insist other parts of the state should also be considered under the rotation arrangement.
The disagreement has revived old debates over which district or federal constituency should produce the next governor. Some stakeholders argue Nasarawa South should retain the slot for balance, while others insist Nasarawa/Toto Federal Constituency deserves the chance, saying it has never produced a governor since the state was created.
Those pushing that position say returning power to an area that has already produced governors could fuel resentment and weaken party unity. They are calling for a more open and inclusive process rather than what they describe as an early attempt to shape the outcome.
Some party members have also raised concerns about Wadada’s readiness for the job, while others believe the early endorsement has sidelined other aspirants unfairly. There are fears the matter could become a major fault line in the APC if not managed carefully before primaries begin.
Political observers say the dispute now poses a test for the ruling party in Nasarawa, as leaders try to balance succession politics, zoning interests and internal unity ahead of 2027. With more aspirants expected to join the race, the battle over who succeeds Sule may shape the political direction of the state long before the election itself.