2027: Shettima backs Wadada as Nasarawa’s next governor

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Ahead of the governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress in Nasarawa State, Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on Wednesday aligned himself with Governor Abdullahi Sule by publicly endorsing Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada as Nasarawa’s next governor in 2027.

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Shettima identified Senator Wadada, who currently represents Nasarawa West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, as the successor to Sule, saying the senator “has his job cut out” as Nasarawa State prepares for a political transition in 2027.

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Shettima made the remark while speaking at the opening of the two-day Nasarawa Investment Summit 2026 in Lafia, themed, “Bold Transitions, Building a Legacy for a Sustainable Future.”

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The summit is the final investment forum under Sule’s administration and is focused on institutionalising economic reforms beyond the 2027 elections.

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Addressing delegates, including investors, traditional rulers, political leaders, governorship aspirants, and members of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, the Vice President assured the investing public that Nasarawa’s economic trajectory would remain stable regardless of who takes over from Sule.

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Shettima prayed and expressed hope that, by the grace of God, Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, who was present at the summit, would succeed Sule and ensure the continuity and sustainability of the state’s investment drive.

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He said the assurance was critical to maintaining investor confidence as the state approaches the 2027 political transition.

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“I want to assure the investing public that, by the grace of God, seated in our midst here is the next governor of Nasarawa. He would abide by the contract,” Shettima said.

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He went on to describe Senator Wadada as a technocrat with a banking background who “cut his teeth in the banking industry” and “will continue from where Engineer A.A. Sule is going to stop.”

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Shettima then turned directly to Wadada, who currently represents Nasarawa West in the National Assembly and is widely regarded as Sule’s preferred successor for the 2027 governorship race, and said, “Senator Wadada, you have your job cut out for you. We wish you well.”

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The Vice President’s comments came as the summit launched the Lafia Declaration, a voluntary commitment by political parties, the legislature, judiciary, development partners, and investors to sustain Nasarawa’s reform agenda beyond the next election cycle.

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The declaration is intended to give investors confidence that contracts and policies will remain intact after the transition.

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The Vice President concluded by emphasising that “the greatest gift any leader can leave is the certainty that progress will survive after him,” describing continuity anchored in competence and character as “Nigeria’s next competitive advantage.”

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