The Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has announced that the All Progressives Congress has agreed to conduct a direct primary election for the 2027 governorship and other elective positions in the state. This decision was made public on Sunday following a meeting convened by Governor Sule with governorship aspirants, members of the National and state Assemblies, and chairmen of federal government agencies and parastatals from Nasarawa state.
According to Governor Sule, the meeting provided a platform for key stakeholders to express their views on how the party should navigate the primary election. The majority of those present at the meeting supported a direct primary, which Governor Sule assured will be open, transparent, and in line with the APC constitution and the Electoral Act.
Governor Sule also made his position clear on the zoning arrangement, stating that it is time for Nasarawa West Senatorial Zone to produce the next governor of the state. However, he expressed his preference for the Keffi Zone, which has not produced a governor in the past twenty years.
The Governor appealed to all aspirants to accept the outcome of the primary in good faith and to avoid bitterness and open conflict among themselves. He warned that division within the party would ultimately hurt Nasarawa state more than any individual.
Governor Abdullahi Sule's decision to adopt a direct primary election for the 2027 Nasarawa governorship election is a step in the right direction, but the real test lies in the transparency and fairness of the process. The Governor's assertion that he will be transparent and sincere while going through the process is commendable, but his expressed preference for the Keffi Zone raises questions about the neutrality of the primary election. The outcome of this election will be a litmus test for the APC in Nasarawa state, and it remains to be seen whether the party will emerge stronger and united. For everyday Nigerians, this election is a reminder that the choices made by politicians have real-world consequences, and the outcome of this election will impact the lives of citizens in Nasarawa state.
