2027: As battle for Nasarawa North Senatorial District heats up, will Governor Sule succeed?

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By Muhammed Danjuma Ogwu, Lafia

As the countdown to the 2027 general elections continues the stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa North Senatorial District have unanimously passed a vote of confidence on Governor Abdullahi Sule, for the senate seat, amid PDP and SDP quietly intensifying consultations across the zone.

At the heart of the growing political contest is the question of who among will defeat the incumbent governor Abdullahi Sule, the current serving senator at the national assembly, senator Godiya Akwashiki SDP, and the former deputy governor during late Aliyu Akwe Doma Micheal Abdul who contested the senate seat with Akwashiki in 2019.

There are also the gubernatorial candidate of APGA the former minister of information Labaran Maku who contested for the governorship in the state in 2019, is said to indicate interest in the senatorship race, Nathaniel Aya-Akwashiki PDP, Benbella Madaki PDP and Nathaniel Aboki PDP among others who are yet to declare publicly in the zone who are alleged to be aspiring for the same senatorial seat.

Our correspondent reports that the political atmosphere in the zone is already charged, with major contenders in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Parties (PDP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP), quietly intensifying consultations within the breadth and length of the senatorial district.

The former Secretary to the Nasarawa State Government, Timothy Anjide had recently conveyed their position during a high-level stakeholders meeting held in Akwanga, the headquarters of Akwanga local government area of Nasarawa state.

Our correspondent also reports that the expanded meeting, convened at the instance of the Chairmen of Akwanga, Wamba, and Nasarawa Eggon Local Government areas of the state, brought together critical APC stakeholders from across Nasarawa North, targeted at fostering unity and repositioning the party for continued success.

Speaking during APC critical stakeholders meeting in the Nasarawa Northern senatorial district, the former Secretary to the State Government, Timothy Anjide, disclosed that the stakeholders had unanimously passed a vote of confidence on Governor Abdullahi Sule and endorsed him due to his transformative leadership and his developmental strides in the area of the ongoing Akwanga fly over and underpass, saying that by the time the project is complemented the Akwanga LGA council which is the commercial hum activities of the state.

He, however, noted that the unanimous call by APC critical stakeholders in the Nasarawa North senatorial district on governor Sule to represent them at the national assembly was due to his dedication and unalloyed commitment to tackle the state of insecurity that have bedevilling the state and the Nasarawa North as a whole which have made the entire state free from criminals activities ranges from kidnappers, bandits and Fulani herders and farmers clashes.

His words, “Stakeholders are united in their call for Governor Sule to represent Nasarawa North in the Senate, as a continuation of his impactful leadership.”

They further applauded the governor’s developmental strides and exemplary governance.

He, therefore, applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing sons and daughters of the district into strategic federal positions and unanimously endorsed him for a second term.

According to him, “We appreciate Mr. President’s inclusive leadership and hereby unanimously endorse him for a second term, in recognition of his commitment to national development.”

Anjide then reaffirmed the stakeholders’ unwavering loyalty to the APC and pledged to strengthen the party’s grassroots structures across wards and local government areas, emphasizing youth and women empowerment as top priorities moving forward.

Earlier, the State ALGON Chairman and Chairman of Akwanga Local Government Council, Safiyanu Isa Andaha, explained that the meeting aimed at resolving internal disagreements and reposition the party for collective progress, calling for patience, unity, and cooperation among members.

He said, “This meeting is to strengthen our party and promote internal harmony for the benefit of all. We urge members to embrace unity and focus on our common goals.”

However, the Director-General of the State’s Bureau for Pension Administration, Suleiman Musa-Nagogo, had on May 19 2025 announced that governor Sule had declared his intention to run for the Nasarawa North senatorial district seat during the 2027 general election.

He revealed this while speaking with stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress in the Wamba Local Government Area of the state.

According to Nagogo, he had been informed by the governor of his intention to contest the election to represent the Nasarawa North senatorial district in 2027.

He said, “I have been in Wamba with a crystal clear message from His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, to simply introduce a very important subject matter to the people of my own home, Wamba Local Government Area.

“That important message is to inform them that he is desirous of contesting for the office of Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come 2027.”

Nagogo explained that following his resolve to contest for the senate seat, Governor Sule has appointed a committee to handle the project across the Nasarawa North senatorial district.

“That committee is still a committee of work in progress because we have yet to reach any reasonable milestone in the process of executing this project.

“But I consider it imperative that, as the saying goes, charity begins at home. I should be able to take it upon myself to call on my own people of Wamba Local Government and inform them about this project,” he added.

“It is equally my duty to inform my own people way beforehand that in terms of capacity, in terms of the wherewithal, in terms of the in-depth knowledge and understanding of the politics of this senatorial district, Governor Abdullahi Sule is second to none,” he said.

The DG Pension Bureau reiterated that Sule had made Wamba his home, adding that there was no reason why Wamba should allow any other place to take the lead in supporting the Governor to realise his political ambition.

“This is our own project. This is the project of the Wamba people,” he added.

He further explained that it was also his responsibility to draw the attention of the people to the developmental strides recorded by the governor, not only in the Nasarawa North senatorial district but across the state.

“At least, we need no emphasis to make our people realise the massive transformation he (Governor Sule) has carried out in Lafia, the state capital.

“We need nobody to inform us about the very in-depth steps he has taken in improving the agricultural sector in Nasarawa State.

“We need nobody to inform us that in terms of exploration of solid minerals, Governor Abdullahi Sule in Nasarawa State has been the pacesetter,” he said.

But, the Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Addra had recently debunked the claimed made by Nagogo that the governor has not and did not send anybody to declare his intention to contest for the senate position and the governor has repeatedly debunked publications and rumour that he is contesting the senatorial position 2027.

His words, “Despite pressure from supporters and political allies the governor has maintained his initial stand not to run for the position of the senate in 2027. This assertion is untrue and definitely does not emanate from Governor Abdullahi Sule.”

It would be further recalled that Akwashiki, Senator representing Nasarawa North, had dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing the alleged doctoring of delegates list as the reason for leaving the ruling party.

“You are all aware of what transpired during the APC primary election in Akwanga. I withdrew from the race because delegates’ lists were doctored by the party. I have been under pressure by you to leave the party and today, I have answered your call to leave APC and to actualize my re-election ambition.

His defection comes days after a former Minister of Aviation and chieftain of the APC, Femi Fani-Kayode, said 22 more APC senators to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking with our correspondent and ally of governor Sule, Obed Gomna the former overseer Akwanga West Development Area, narrated that governor Sule has provided an investment-friendly environment in Nasarawa State for woeing investors to the state, nothing that in the area of security there is peace in Nasarawa state owing to his dedication and unloyoed commitment.

His words, “We are begging governor Abdullahi Sule to come and contest for Nasarawa North Senatorial District because he has done well in the areas of security, construction of roads network across the state and the fly over and underpass project in Lafia and the ongoing fly over and underpass project in Akwanga local government area of the state as well as the inauguration of Keffi fly over and underpass project to the tune of N11 billion.”

According to him, though the governor has not accepted the call yet, but “W are crying every day, praying on our knees that the governor should accept it to contest for this benefit.”

On the chances of governor to win the senatorial seat come 2027, he added that the governor has chances of winning his election considering his track records

“We are still praying and asking him to come and accept the general call by APC critical stakeholders in the Nasarawa North senatorial district. He should drop the idea that he is not interested. Have you heard what they say that the voice of the kids are the voices of God?”he insisted.

Gomna maintained that the completion of abandoned projects by his predecessors is another reasons why they are begging him to accept their call to contest for the senate seat, arguing that since the state was created in 1996 the governor has ever completed an abandoned projects except the governor Sule.

He continued: “Looking at rural roads network and recently when the president came to Nasarawa State and confessed that Engineer Abdullahi Sule is doing well and looking at the ongoing fly over and underpass project in Akwanga local government area of the state is enough reason why he should not reject our call.”

Also reacting to the endorsement, Adamu Bako Ninga, state chairman of People Democratic Party (PDP), explained that PDP in the state has never lost any election in Nasarawa state since inception, reiterating the preparedness of the party to continue to win elections in in state.

He continued, “We are not afraid of anybody that contest elections with PDP.
in Nasarawa state come 2027. We are having our structure. We are beginning to realign all our programs. We are beginning to re-strategize our winning formula.

We have begun to sit down to encourage our electorate, appreciate them, so that we are prepared for the next election that is coming up in 2027. So, the issue of either I am going to bring a candidate or not a structure is already built up.

And definitely they will bring all their candidates from any ward, a councilor, to chairman, and whatever, to the national elections.”

On the whether PDP already has an anointed senatorial candidate that will representing Nasarawa North, he said that the party will definitely allow everybody to showcase all the qualities during the senatorial primary, saying that at the end of the day, “we will go under the process of selecting anybody that is going to carry our flag.

And we are not stopping anybody from contesting any election,” he stated.

“PDP is not going to adopt a consensus method. We are going to allow everybody to showcase its interest because PDP it is an organized party that has a structure and we cannot just sit down and adopt people. It is a free contest for everybody.”

Our correspondent also reports that other notable participants, including the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Kwanta Yakubu, Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Mohammed Agah Muluku; Engr. Tony Bala Shammah, TBS and Senator John Danboyi, therefore, pledged renewed commitment to the growth and progress of the APC in the zone and beyond.