Al-Makura Faults Sule Over Wadada Endorsement for 2027 Nasarawa Governorship

A former governor of Nasarawa State, Tanko Al-Makura, has openly criticised Governor Abdullahi Sule over the endorsement of Senator Aliyu Wadada as a preferred candidate for the 2027 governorship election.

Al-Makura, in a video circulating on social media platform X, said he was neither consulted nor involved in the decision-making process leading to the endorsement.

Responding to a question on whether the governor sought his input, the former governor gave a blunt reply: “No.”

He further described the move as premature, noting that it was too early in the political cycle for such endorsements,particularly one that reportedly involved engagement at the level of the presidency.

Al-Makura stressed that the emergence of a governorship candidate should be determined through a transparent and credible process within the All Progressives Congress (APC), rather than through imposition.

He urged party stakeholders to allow for open primaries that would give all aspirants a fair chance.

Governor Sule had earlier presented Wadada as his preferred successor during a meeting with political appointees and heads of government agencies at the Government House in Lafia, signalling early political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Wadada, who currently represents Nasarawa West Senatorial District in the 10th Senate, recently defected from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to the APC,a move widely interpreted as part of his governorship ambition.

The endorsement has, however, triggered early signs of internal contest within the APC. Former Inspector-General of Police, Abubakar Adamu, has rejected suggestions that Sule’s backing is binding, maintaining that he will contest for the party’s governorship ticket.

Governor Sule has defended his position, arguing that zoning the governorship to Nasarawa West is in the interest of fairness and equity,a stance seen as favouring Wadada but one that continues to generate mixed reactions within party ranks.