Nasarawa Youth Forum Rejects Governor Sule’s Endorsement Of Senator Aliyu Wadada For 2027 Succession

Nasarawa ethnic youth groups reject Governor Sule’s endorsement of Senator Wadada, demanding an indigenous candidate and a transparent 2027 primary.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 24, 2026, 4:05 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Guardian Nigeria

Opposition Mounts Against Executive Endorsement

The political landscape in Nasarawa State has been unsettled by a formal protest from the Forum of National Youth Presidents of Ethnic Nationalities. The group has publicly rejected the decision by Governor Abdullahi Sule to name Senator Ahmed Aliyu-Wadada, the representative for Nasarawa West, as his chosen successor for the 2027 governorship race. During a briefing held in Lafia, the forum argued that the governor’s declaration lacks the broad consultation necessary for maintaining party unity and state-wide stability.

Demands For Democratic Transparency

Silas Dauda Yileni, the President of Bassa Youth and coordinating chairman of the forum, emphasized that while the governor possesses a constitutional right to a preference, that preference must not bypass democratic norms. The group drew a sharp comparison to the 2019 transition, noting that when former Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura endorsed the current governor, a contested and transparent primary was still conducted. The youth leaders insist that the All Progressives Congress must provide a level playing field for all aspirants to ensure the eventual candidate carries genuine popular legitimacy.

The Indigenous Candidate Mandate

A central pillar of the group's protest is the demand for an indigenous governorship candidate from all major political parties, regardless of religious affiliation. The forum issued a stern warning that any attempt to field a non-indigenous candidate would result in a massive mobilization of ethnic communities against such an "injustice." By prioritizing indigenous identity over party loyalty, the youth presidents signaled that their support is conditional upon the protection of native political interests in the Shendam Road Government House.