Nasarawa 2027: Shuaib Faisal Defies Odds, Declares Guber Bid Against Gov Sule’s Preferred Successor, Wadada 

“He’ll Lose and Regret It,” APC Leaders Warn

By Correspondent

The race for the 2027 governorship election in Nasarawa State intensified on Thursday as Dr. Faisal Shuaib, former Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, formally declared his intention to contest on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

His entry sets up a direct contest with Senator Aliyu Wadada, widely regarded as the preferred successor of Governor Abdullahi Sule.

Faisal announced his ambition during a stakeholders’ meeting in Akwanga Local Government Area, which drew women’s groups, youth organisations, political mobilisers, and grassroots coordinators from across the state.

The gathering, initially conceived as a consensus-building forum, quickly transformed into an endorsement rally, with participants urging the former public health administrator to enter the race.

Accepting the call, Shuaib described his decision as a moral duty and spiritual commitment to the people of Nasarawa State.

“I am deeply humbled by this show of confidence. This call to serve is not just political; it is an oath before God to work for the welfare, unity, and prosperity of our dear state,” he said.

He pledged to deliver accountable and inclusive leadership, with a focus on human capital development, healthcare reform, and expanded economic opportunities for youths and women.

Shuaib also disclosed that his supporters have intensified mobilisation across the 13 local government areas of the state, noting a surge in APC registrations.

“I have been reliably informed that our supporters have registered massively across the state. This is not just support; it is a responsibility that I must not take lightly,” he added.

He further assured party faithful of an issue-based campaign anchored on competence, transparency, and effective service delivery.

Stakeholders at the meeting commended his decision to join the race, describing it as a response to a “clarion call” and expressing confidence in his leadership capacity. A youth leader described Shuaib as “a new direction,” citing his experience and exposure, while a women’s leader said his candidacy was timely and aligned with the state’s development needs.

However, concerns were raised over delays in the distribution of APC membership registration slips to new members, with stakeholders warning that the situation could affect participation in the party’s primaries.

“Many of our people registered months ago but have not received their slips. This could affect participation in the primaries if not urgently addressed,” a stakeholder said.

Participants urged party leaders to expedite the process to ensure transparency, proper accreditation, and inclusive participation.

Observers say the development signals an early intensification of political activities within the Nasarawa APC, with more aspirants expected to declare in the coming weeks ahead of what is likely to be a keenly contested primary.

Meanwhile, an APC stalwart, who spoke on condition of anonymity, cautioned Shuaib Faisal against defying what he described as the party’s prevailing direction.

“He should be wary of misleading advice. If he proceeds, he will lose and regret his action,” the source warned.