Ex-IGP Adamu, Al-Makura Kick as Sule Endorses Wadada for Nasarawa Guber
Former Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Adamu-Abubakar, has publicly rejected the endorsement of Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada by Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, as his preferred successor for the 2027 governorship election. Speaking at a press briefing in Lafia, the erstwhile police boss insisted that he would not be intimidated or distracted by the governor's action, emphasizing that the electorate—not any individual—would ultimately determine who emerges as governor.
Adamu Criticizes Attempts to Impose Candidate
Adamu criticized what he described as attempts to impose a candidate ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries, alleging that government officials and party executives were being pressured to support Wadada over other aspirants. "We are not deterred and we are not distracted. The people of Nasarawa State are the determining factors in this whole process," he stated, adding that party leaders must remain impartial and adhere to electoral laws and party guidelines.
Al-Makura Labels Endorsement Premature and Undemocratic
The development has stirred mixed reactions across the state, with stakeholders divided over the timing and implications of endorsing a preferred candidate before the primary. Also weighing in, former Nasarawa State Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, criticized the move, describing it as premature and potentially undemocratic. Al-Makura said while the governor has the right to support any aspirant, publicly presenting a preferred candidate—especially before party processes are concluded—undermines due process.
Controversy Follows Sule's Declaration and Presentation to Tinubu
The controversy followed Governor Sule's recent declaration of Wadada as his preferred successor and his presentation of the lawmaker to President Bola Tinubu, a move that has intensified political debate within the state's APC ranks. This action has sparked concerns about internal party democracy and the fairness of the upcoming electoral process.
State Government Defends Governor's Decision
However, the state government has defended the governor's decision. In a statement issued by the governor's Senior Special Assistant on Media, Ali Abare, the government said Sule acted within established political traditions in the state, insisting that the endorsement was neither premature nor improper. The government noted that the process being criticized by Al-Makura was similar to the one that led to Sule's emergence as governor, recalling that the former governor had personally chosen Sule as his successor.
The ongoing debate highlights deep-seated tensions within Nasarawa's political landscape as the 2027 election approaches, with key figures clashing over the appropriateness of early endorsements and the role of party elites in shaping electoral outcomes. Observers note that this could impact voter confidence and party unity in the lead-up to the polls.
