The political landscape in Nasarawa State is intensifying as the 2027 governorship race approaches, with the concept of zoning taking center stage within the All Progressives Congress (APC). Former APC National Chairman and two-term state governor, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, has emphatically stated that it is the turn of his zone, Keffi in the Nasarawa West Senatorial District, to produce the next governor. Adamu’s assertion, made at a stakeholders’ meeting in Keffi, describes this claim as the zone’s “birthright,” reigniting a long-standing debate over power rotation among the state’s three senatorial districts: Keffi (West), Lafia (South), and Akwanga (North).

Senator Adamu grounded his argument in a gentleman’s agreement, which he claims was established by the state’s founding fathers in 1996. This unwritten accord aimed to ensure equity and inclusiveness by rotating leadership due to the state’s ethnic and political diversity. He recalled the historical progression of power: he, from Nasarawa West, was the first executive governor, serving eight years. He then supported Aliyu Akwe Doma from Nasarawa South, who served four years. Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, also from Nasarawa South, served eight years, bringing the South’s total to 12 years. Subsequently, power shifted to Nasarawa North with the incumbent Governor Abdullahi Sule, who is completing his second term. Adamu contended that since Nasarawa West last produced a governor over 20 years ago, it is now their logical and just turn to reclaim the seat. This stance garnered significant support from key stakeholders in the Western Zone, including the APC national legal adviser, the Minister of Women Affairs, and various current and former top government officials.

However, the unity within the APC in Nasarawa State appears strained. The party’s state chairman, Aliyu Bello, faced suspension by his Gayam Ward executives in Lafia for alleged anti-party activities, specifically for supposedly backing a candidate not registered with the APC. Bello dismissed the suspension as illegal, but a Senior District Court III in Lafia on July 3, 2025, issued an order restraining him from acting as APC chairman or member, pending the determination of a case filed against him. This internal dispute highlights the deep factional divides within the party as the election draws nearer.

Despite the strong advocacy for zoning, not all stakeholders agree. Othman Usman, a former Attorney-General of Nasarawa State and an associate of Al-Makura, disputed the existence of any formal zoning agreement at the state’s creation. He argued that Senator Adamu himself became governor through an open contest and that the concept of zoning only emerged later. Usman suggested that since each zone has now produced a governor, the rotational cycle has run its course, advocating for a free and open contest for all aspirants. Similarly, some pundits view the push for an open contest as a strategic move by certain stakeholders to prevent Nasarawa West from securing the governorship.

Governor Abdullahi Sule, while attending the Keffi meeting, stated he would endorse a successor publicly at the appropriate time, urging aspirants to adhere to party rules and avoid political overheating. Among the potential contenders from Nasarawa West, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, former Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), is emerging as a strong frontrunner. Credited for leading Nigeria’s polio eradication and COVID-19 vaccination efforts, Shuaib is seen as a technocrat with broad appeal and potential to be a consensus candidate, particularly if Governor Sule backs him. Other notable names include Professor Mohammed Haruna, closely linked to Adamu but perceived as lacking grassroots appeal, and Senator Aliyu Wadada of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Wadada, a former APC member, faces challenges due to his defection and a long-standing rift with Senator Adamu, despite his grassroots popularity. APC insiders are reportedly reluctant to offer the ticket to a non-member.

Analysts suggest that political fragmentation, ethnic rivalries, personal ambitions, and factional divides could undermine any consensus, despite the emotional potency of the zoning argument. The potential emergence of former Governor Al-Makura as the next APC National Chairman is also seen as a potential game-changer, with speculation that he might leverage the position to favor a candidate from his own Nasarawa South zone, with former Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu rumored to be a contender. As Governor Sule’s tenure concludes, all three zones are actively strategizing, with other zones reportedly planning similar stakeholders’ meetings. The ultimate outcome of the 2027 governorship race will hinge on internal party dynamics, elite negotiations, and how aspirants navigate the complex interplay of interests, testing the APC’s ability to maintain unity amidst fierce competition.