2027: Why political actors, supporters should emulate Governor Sule’s calm approach

By Ali Abare

Since the creation of Nasarawa State in 1996, there is no governorship election that is generating so much hightened interest than the forthcoming 2027 guber election. The reasons for these political frenzy are obvious and are traceble to two significant developments.

First, Governor Abdullahi Sule, drawing from his vast experience from the organized private sector, has repositioned Nasarawa State making it one of the most economically viable states in the country. With Nasarawa now transformed into an investment haven, with unprecedented achievements in the areas of mining and agriculture, the stakes are now higher than ever before on who would succeed the incumbent governor.

Secondly, the fiscal reforms initiated by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of the country’s multiple exchange rates, has resulted into more resources coming to the states, empowering the state governments to embark on key infrastructural development projects.

For these reasons and more, several number of sons and daughters of the state have made known their intentions to contest for the seat of the governor of Nasarawa State come 2027, with over 28 reportedly guuning for the ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Within the APC, the question of who will succeed Governor Sule has become a natural topic of discussion, generating enthusiasm, debate, and sometimes anxiety, with the political temperature in the state already growing warmer as the elections draw nearer.

Amidst this rising tide of political activity, Governor Sule has maintained a notably calm and measured demeanor. To understand this calmness is to understand a leader deeply focused on legacy, stability, and the long-term health of both the state and his party.

Governor Sule has been very clear about his priorities, with his primary focus being to ensure that the next governor is someone with proven competence and a clear capacity to govern. This isn’t just about finding a suitable candidate; it’s about safeguarding the future of Nasarawa State.

The governor has worked hard to attract investments, build infrastructure, and set the state on a path of development. He has openly expressed a concern familiar to any leader who has built something: the fear that a successor might come and undo all the progress. This is not a personal worry, but a concern for the people of the state.

To protect his administration’s key projects and policies, he has taken the extra step of working with the State House of Assembly to give many of these decisions the full backing of law. This makes them more difficult to casually reverse.

In essence, his careful approach to succession is rooted in a desire to protect the state’s developmental gains.

Another pillar of his stance is a firm commitment to the existing zoning arrangement in Nasarawa State.

Governor Sule has said publicly that he is himself a product of this zoning system, and he will be the last person to discontinue it. This public commitment is a crucial piece of the puzzle. It serves as a guiding principle that narrows the field and sets a boundary for the conversation.

By upholding zoning, he is appealing to a sense of fairness and rotational equity that is important for unity in a diverse state. It tells every zone that the rules of the game are respected, which should, in theory, calm nerves about unfair advantage.

However, the road has not been completely smooth. The governor’s calm has been tested. There have been incidents of intense agitation by some aspirants and their supporters, including an attempt to forcefully remove the state chairman of the APC.

There are those who have taken the political agitations to the realm of the social media, churning out provocative short videos amounting to overheating of the polity which the governor has warned against.

His response to these provocations has not been public confrontation, but a continued emphasis on process, party discipline, and the ultimate will of God and the people.

The governor’s handling of the zoning debate has been a masterclass in strategic equilibrium. He has consistently affirmed that every zone deserves a fair chance and that every voice is critical to the party’s harmony.

By advocating for patience, broader consultation, and ultimate deference to the party’s decision-making structures, he has calmed frayed nerves without making a single premature commitment.

So, where does this leave the many aspirants and party faithful?

Governor Sule has provided the answers himself in recent stakeholder meetings. First, he has asked everyone not to overheat the polity. This is a direct plea for peaceful and issue-based engagements.

Second, he has stated unequivocally that political power comes from God. This is a call for humility and a reminder that human scheming is not ultimate.

Third, he has guaranteed a level playing field for all aspirants when the time for primaries comes, promising to ensure a free and fair process.

But fourth, and very importantly, he has reserved his right as a citizen and leader to support a candidate.

He has said, “When the time comes, I’ll clearly name my preferred candidate.” He has also been profoundly honest about his current state of mind, telling former local government chairmen that God has not yet revealed that person to him.

He even suggested the eventual successor might not be among the current 28 declared aspirants. His criteria are clear: he seeks someone with the capacity to hold together the investors and development partners he has attracted, a person who can govern with diplomacy and respect, not just raw power.

Therefore, Governor Sule’s calm should not be mistaken for inactivity or indecision. It is the calm of a strategist. He is watching, listening, and weighing options against the fixed principles of zoning, competence, and state security.

His calm is meant to lower the temperature, to give space for the best candidate to emerge without the chaos of a public stampede.

For the members of the APC, this is a time for patience and trust.

The governor has laid out his roadmap: respect for zoning, a commitment to a fair primary, and a eventual personal endorsement based on merit and divine guidance.

The call by first civilian governor of the state anf former APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu for the ticket to be zoned to Nasarawa West falls in line with the governor’s own zoning principle and adds another voice to that consensus-building process.

Indeed, the jostling for the governorship ticket is a normal part of democracy. However, in Nasarawa State, Governor Sule is applying a deliberate, thoughtful brake to the process to ensure it doesn’t veer off into destructive chaos.

His calm demeanour is a signal. It is a signal to aspirants to focus on selling their vision rather than undermining the party. It is a signal to supporters to campaign with decorum. And it is a signal to the entire state that the succession plan will be handled with the seriousness it deserves, with the ultimate goal of presenting a candidate who can unite the party, win the election, and, most importantly, continue the work of building a prosperous Nasarawa State for everyone.

The peace and unity of the APC now depend on members understanding this measured approach and channeling their energies into strengthening the party for the battle ahead, trusting that when the time is right, their leader will point the way forward.