2027: Stakeholders to determine mode of primaries,  as Gov. Sule reaffirms zoning

Nasarawa State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule has stated that choice of the mode of Primary election to be adopted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State will be determined collectively by himself and the aspirants.
Governor Sule stated in a meeting with APC governorship aspirants held at the Nasarawa State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja on Sunday.
He stated that the choice between direct primary and consensus arrangement would be made collectively by the aspirants and other stakeholders and not by him alone, stressing that he would accept whatever method was agreed upon.
Regarding zoning, the governor reaffirmed his earlier position that power rotation has ensured equity and fairness in the state, saying it has guided political succession in Nasarawa State since 2007.
He told the aspirants that no single person among them was strong enough to win an election without the support of the others, drawing from his experience during the 2019 governorship election, in which aspirants who lost at the primaries rallied behind the eventual candidate, as the model for how the party must conduct itself going into 2027.
He expressed no personal grievance or favour against any aspirant, noting that his sole interest was in ensuring the party wins across the board in 2027.
“We are going to start conducting the primaries. Luckily, the primaries have been reduced now to just two options. In the past, we had three options. We have the consensus, we have the direct and the indirect, and I’m a product of indirect. Today, indirect has been taken out of the Electoral Act, so we now have direct and consensus.
“To show you my sincerity, you will decide which one we will do. I will not decide. We will collectively as a party decide which one we are going to do, consensus or direct, whichever way I’m in for it. I don’t have a problem with that,” he stated
Governor Sule, however, pointed out that in as much as he is going to be transparent and sincere while going through the process of the primary election, that would not preclude him from identifying his prefered aspirant.
“This is the beginning of showing you how transparent and sincere I am, as far as this is concerned. That will not stop me from saying this is the zone I prefer. Those who want to listen to me can follow. Those who don’t want to listen can do the otherwise,” he said.