APC stakeholders in Nasarawa State’s Southern Senatorial Zone on Saturday urged Faisal Shuaib not to abandon his 2027 governorship ambition, even as Governor Abdullahi Sule has backed Senator Ahmed Wadada as his preferred successor. The appeal came at a rally in Lafia, where supporters said Shuaib should stay in the race and test his strength in the party’s direct primary election.
If he goes ahead, Shuaib will face Senator Ahmed Wadada, who represents Nasarawa West in the National Assembly, as well as former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu and other aspirants in the APC direct primaries fixed for May 21, 2026. The contest is shaping up as one of the sharpest tests yet of how the ruling party will handle its succession battle in the state.
Elayo Confidence said the governor’s choice of one aspirant should not bar others from seeking the ticket. He said Shuaib had already contributed meaningfully to Nasarawa’s growth and development before entering active politics, and argued that the direct primary format would reduce fears that the party’s candidate could be imposed from above.
“Dr Faisal Shuaib has done a lot for the people of Nasarawa State, and we feel that if he becomes the governor in 2027, he will do better for the people. He has all that we need in a leader. He is a servant-leader who is experienced, grassroots-based and people-centric,” Confidence said. He added that the Southern zone stakeholders were encouraging him not to give up because they had confidence in his ability to take the state to greater heights.
Amina Sani, who said she believed Shuaib was a good and trustworthy man, also backed his bid. She said the rally went on in Lafia despite rain, a show of loyalty she tied to the kind of leadership she wants for her family’s future. “I have seen this, my brother, as a good man who can do it. He is not just saying it, but he is trustworthy. So, we will be with him till the end,” she said.
She added: “You can see how we all walked in the rain despite the downpour. Our love for him is total and unconditional because at my age, I am not after money but sustainable leadership for my grandchildren.” With direct primaries now the party’s chosen route, the fight over the APC ticket is set to play out in the open, and Shuaib’s answer will determine whether he stays in a contest that is already drawing the governor’s pick and other heavyweight aspirants into the same arena.
