Vice President Kashim Shettima has moved to Shettima endorse Wadada as the preferred candidate for the 2027 Nasarawa State governorship race under the All Progressives Congress (APC), strengthening ongoing efforts to build consensus within the party ahead of its primaries.
Political preparations for the 2027 general elections have intensified within the APC, with several states adopting consensus-building strategies to manage internal competition. In Nasarawa State, consultations among party stakeholders have been ongoing to identify a governorship candidate capable of maintaining party unity and continuity in governance.
Governor Abdullahi Sule had earlier indicated support for Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada following extensive stakeholder engagements across the state’s three senatorial districts. The process has been framed as part of efforts to reduce internal divisions ahead of the party’s primary elections.
The development where Shettima endorse Wadada aligns with earlier endorsements by Governor Abdullahi Sule, who publicly identified Wadada as his preferred successor after consultations with party leaders and stakeholders.
Wadada, a serving senator representing Nasarawa West, has been positioned as a central figure in the APC’s succession planning within the state. His candidacy has received backing from segments of the party structure, including lawmakers and local government stakeholders. During consultations, stakeholders reportedly emphasized the need for continuity and political stability, which informed the push for a consensus arrangement around Wadada’s candidacy.
As Shettima endorse Wadada, party insiders view the move as reinforcing federal and state-level alignment within the APC structure in Nasarawa ahead of the 2027 elections. Wadada has previously urged unity within the party, encouraging aspirants and stakeholders to work together in order to strengthen the APC’s chances in the upcoming elections.
The decision signals increasing consolidation within the APC’s internal political structure in Nasarawa State. It may reduce contestation during primaries if consensus arrangements are sustained.
However, it also places responsibility on party leadership to manage expectations among other aspirants who may have ambitions for the governorship ticket. At a broader level, it reflects the APC’s strategy of early alignment in strategically important states ahead of the 2027 general elections.
