Nasarawa Guber Aspirant Nalaraba Withdraws, Joins Senate Race, Declares Support for Wadada
APC unity takes centre stage as Nalaraba exits governorship contest, pledges full mobilisation for party consensus candidate
By Suleiman Abubakar Rimi Uku, Lafia
In a major political development ahead of the 2027 general elections, a frontline governorship aspirant in Nasarawa State under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Abubakar Hassan Nalaraba, has withdrawn from the governorship race and declared his intention to contest for the Nasarawa South Senatorial District seat in the National Assembly.
Nalaraba made the announcement in Lafia, the state capital, after what he described as extensive consultations with stakeholders across the state, stating that his decision was guided by party unity and the collective interest of Nasarawa State over personal ambition.
He stressed that his withdrawal from the governorship contest should not be interpreted as weakness, but rather as a demonstration of political maturity and commitment to strengthening the internal cohesion of the APC.
The former aspirant aligned himself with the position of the state leadership, particularly the endorsement of Senator Ahmed Ali Ahmed Ali Wadada as the preferred successor to Governor Abdullahi A. Sule.
“I align myself totally with the decision of His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi Abdullahi Sule, who endorsed Distinguished Senator Ahmed Ali Wadada as his preferred candidate.
I place the unity and stability of the APC above my personal ambition,” he stated.
Nalaraba further pledged to mobilize his political structure across 147 wards and 13 local government areas of the state to ensure the success of the party’s consensus arrangement, particularly in the primaries and general elections.
While stepping down from the governorship race, he formally declared his ambition to represent Nasarawa South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, saying the move was informed by widespread calls from constituents urging him to contribute at a higher legislative level.
He highlighted his record of grassroots interventions, including scholarship support for indigent students, distribution of palliatives to vulnerable groups, and empowerment programmes targeting youths and widows.
Nalaraba also commended Governor Abdullahi Sule for what he described as his tolerance, inclusive governance style, and commitment to peaceful coexistence within the party and across the state.
