By SUNDAY JOHN

Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has endorsed Sen. Ahmed Wadada as his preferred All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate ahead of the party primaries for the 2027 governorship election.

Sule made the declaration at a meeting with political appointees and heads of government agencies on Thursday in Lafia.

He described Wadada as an embodiment of the philosophy that had guided his administration’s governance style and political inclusiveness.

The governor said that the process of selecting a successor had lasted over one year and involved extensive consultations within and outside the state.

According to him, stakeholders consulted include prospective investors, youth and women groups, traditional rulers, party officials and key actors across the three senatorial zones.

“We have to look for people who have the capacity to win the election and develop the state for the benefit of all,” he said.

Sule said that the process was eventually narrowed to three aspirants considered capable, adding that further consultations led to the emergence of Wadada.

He commended aspirants from Nasarawa West Senatorial District for demonstrating maturity by agreeing to support whoever emerged.

The governor said that the aspirants had also proposed equitable distribution of elective positions between the two federal constituencies in the zone.

He expressed support for the arrangement and urged his appointees to work towards its realisation.

Sule, however, urged his appointees to set aside personal interests and unite behind Wadada and other candidates of the APC.

He stressed that the same level of support should be extended to the party’s candidates for senatorial, House of Representatives and state assembly seats.

The governor cautioned against ridiculing other aspirants, noting that his choice was not based on superiority but on a careful assessment.

He urged supporters of other aspirants to work for the party’s success without bitterness.

On the 2027 presidential election, Sule expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu would perform strongly in Nasarawa State, urging to the people to support the reelection of the president.

He said that even critics of his administration had indicated willingness to support the president.

Earlier, Mr Labaran Magaji, the Secretary to the State Government, assured the governor of the loyalty and readiness of appointees to deliver on the party’s mandate.

Magaji described the meeting as a demonstration of commitment to the administration’s political direction. (NAN)

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