The ongoing political battle in Nasarawa State between Governor Abdullahi Sule and former governor Tanko Al-Makura is quickly turning into a liability for the APC’s overall success, especially given Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s electoral strength in the state.
Stakeholders are becoming divided as a result of Sen. Almakura’s attempt to abandon the zoning formula that encourages peaceful cohabitation. By inciting internal divides and supporting internal conflicts, he has elevated his divisive rhetoric.
The incapacity of political heavyweights to balance legacy influence with current authority is a well-known yet hazardous tendency at the core of the problem. Due to his declining popularity in Nasarawa politics, Al-Makura, the former governor of the state who lost his election to the Senate, seems unable to face reality and make room for Sule, who now controls the government apparatus and the allegiance that comes with incumbency. Although this friction is common, the manner it is being handled runs the risk of dividing the party’s support base.
The persistent projection of parallel authority is one of Al-Makura’s most serious errors. Sule permitted the appointees of his predecessor to remain in office for continuity and a smooth transition, in contrast to other climes where incumbents upload their followers. These appointments, encouraged by his genuine intentions, have since changed their allegiance to the Governor, despite the fact that this could seem like his downfall. Al-Makura deceives himself into thinking he can hold onto party infrastructure. In order to create the impression of a divided dwelling, he is unintentionally siding with other blocs. As the Lord of the Manor, he has persisted in deceiving applicants. Such erroneous signals lead to uncertainty about direction and leadership, which frequently stifles voter enthusiasm.
The timing of these actions is equally detrimental. Internal strife at the state level sends the incorrect message as national political calculations already lean toward consolidation ahead of next elections. The continued battle runs the risk of creating gaps that opposition forces could exploit rather than strengthening the APC’s hold over Nasarawa.
The issue of electoral ramifications is another. Although Nasarawa has consistently contributed to Tinubu’s vote bank, party leaders’ unity is crucial to maintaining stability. Elections are frequently determined at the ward and local government levels, thus when powerful people are thought to be at odds with the governor, this can have a cascading impact. Disillusioned party members may quietly oppose mobilization efforts, withdraw, or defect.
Furthermore, the notion of unified governance is undermined by the optics of elite rivalry. Voters are more interested in concrete results than in previous this and that. At a time when public expectations are high, prolonged infighting runs the risk of painting the APC as inward-looking.
Al-Makura’s services to the state and his perceived political prominence are further diminished by this. However, his strategy seems more and more ineffective in the present situation. In politics, power is about timing, constraint, and strategic alignment in addition to retention.
President Bola Tinubu and the APC’s electoral power in this crucial North Central State of Nassarawa could be the true casualties if this trend continues.
The party’s most precious political currency is still unity rather than rivalry.
Gov. Abdullahi Sule, the Chairman of the APC North Central Forum, continues to be the go-to figure for organizing and delivering Nassarawa State and the North Central zone.
