My attention was drawn to an article published in the Nation newspaper on June 19, 2025, written by one Olufalami Bitrus from Akwanga entitled: “Nasarawa 2027: Should Wadada reap where he did not sow?” Ordinarily, one would have dismissed the write-up as trite, unworthy of any response. However, on further scrutiny, it became necessary to disabuse the minds of the public, especially as the said article was written in bad faith and contains deliberate misrepresentations.
While Bitrus has the right to air his views, he completely misrepresents Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu’s political dexterity, contributions to the All Progressives Congress (APC), and his unwavering commitment to the growth and development of Nasarawa state.
It is obvious judging from the content of his opinion article that the writer is suffering from amnesia, to the point of negating documented facts while making spurious claims about a politician who’s worth his weight in gold and whose affinity with the APC is beyond reproach.
The claim that Senator Wadada is an “outsider” in Nasarawa state is in total negation of the fact that Wadada represented Keffi, Karu, Kokona federal constituency at the House of Representatives for two consecutive terms, from 2003 to 2011, and is now the senator representing Nasarawa west at the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
To even assert that he is an ‘outsider’ to the APC depicts gross ignorance and a distortion of historical facts. For the avoidance of doubt, Senator Wadada was a founding member and architect of the APC’s formation in 2013. As the National Financial Secretary of the then new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), he played a critical role leading to the merger of opposition parties, including the ACN, CPC, ANPP, and APGA, into the APC. This is a documented fact that could not be wished away by blabbers like Bitrus, who was in a hurry to please his paymasters by displaying his ignorance.
Wadada’s strategic contributions during this critical period laid the groundwork for the APC to come into power at the national level. To suggest he “did not sow” in the APC is to deny the party’s very genesis.
Additionally, the article overlooks Senator Wadada’s selfless dedication to the unity of the APC after the 2019 gubernatorial primaries. It is on record that rather than scuttling the primary election, after some aspirants raised issues with the exercise, Senator Wadada refused to work against the interest of the party. He was the first to congratulate Governor Sule, thereby voiding the plot being hatched to scuttle the exercise.
Despite losing the primary to Governor Abdullahi Sule (927 votes to Wadada’s 519), Wadada was eventually appointed Chairman of the Sule campaign council. He campaigned vigorously across the 13 local government areas of the state, mobilising grassroots support that directly contributed to Sule’s victory. This exemplifies Wadada’s commitment to party over self, a virtue the APC leadership respects. Governor Sule himself acknowledged this at a public event in Lafia when he said: “Senator Wadada set aside personal interests and worked tirelessly for my emergence. He is someone who can be trusted.”
The lawmaker was forced to leave the APC in 2022 following a disputed primary election for the Nasarawa West Senate ticket, where irregularities were recorded in delegate lists from Keffi and Nasarawa LGAs. His move to the SDP was not opportunistic but principled, driven by a refusal to endorse undemocratic processes.
Even when recent reports confirm Wadada’s impending exit from the SDP, the change in political gear is not for political convenience, but due to irreconcilable differences with Nasir El-Rufai, whose defection he described as “self-serving.” Recall that Wadada said: “I cannot share a platform with an unprincipled leader. El-Rufai supported Tinubu’s presidency in 2023 but defected after failing to secure a ministerial role.”
While El-Rufai’s move to the SDP represents a clear break, Wadada commended ex-APC Chairman Abdullahi Adamu for his unwavering party loyalty despite setbacks. Wadada’s own return to the APC is, therefore, a homecoming to the very principles he helped establish.
Wadada’s credentials as Nasarawa’s “most popular politician” are unassailable: As a House of Representatives member (2003–2011), his scorecards documented constituency projects and personal philanthropic initiatives. In 18 months as senator, he has sponsored several bills that are impacting the lives of the people of his constituency and Nigerians at large, secured jobs for constituents, executed empowerment programmes, and built infrastructure such as boreholes, and classrooms. He rejects zoning as “undemocratic,” prioritising merit and broad-based support.
Contrary to the article’s speculation about APC “elders,” Senator Wadada’s return strengthens the party’s prospects. His appeal spans youth, elders, and all three Nasarawa senatorial zones—unlike potential rivals whose influence remains localised. The APC thrives when it embraces inclusive leadership, not exclusionary gatekeeping.
Indeed, Senator Wadada did not just “sow” in the APC; he tilled its soil at inception. His brief departure reflected a demand for internal party democracy, a principle the APC champions. His return is a testament to the party’s capacity for renewal and his unwavering belief in its ideals.
To question his right to contest in 2027 is to ignore history, performance, and the will of Nasarawa’s people. Senator Wadada remains ready to lead.