A group under the umbrella of Forum of National Youth Presidents, Ethnic Nationalities in Nasarawa State, has rejected Governor Abdullahi Sule’s endorsement of the Senator representing Nasarawa West Senatorial District, Ahmed Aliyu-Wadada as his preferred successor.

It would be recalled that governor Sule had recently announced Wadada as his preferred successor and called on his supporters as well as the stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress in the state to throw their weight behind him so that he emerge as the party’s candidate during the forthcoming primary elections of the party.

At a press briefing in Lafia, the Nasarawa state capital, the President of Bassa Youth and the coordinating Chairman of the forum, Silas Dauda Yileni, said based on their findings, Governor Abdullahi Sule did not consult widely before his declaration of Senator Ahmed Aliyu-Wadada as his preferred governorship aspirant before announcing him to the public.

He, however, narrated that while the governor has the constitutional right to express a preference, his chosen candidate must emerge through a transparent democratic process.

His words, “We recall when the former Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura endorsed the present governor in 2019, due process was adhered to. Numerous qualified aspirants and the present governor emerged through a primary conducted and contested by so many aspirants.”

He emphasized that it is disturbing that the governor made this important declaration of his preferred aspirant without wide consultation and without involving the ethnic nationalities.

“We demand a fair playing field for all APC governorship aspirants to ensure that a candidate emerges through a transparent and democratic primary process,” he concluded.

The group further admonished all citizens of the state to refrain from making provocative and disparaging remarks, and remain resolute in safeguarding the political future of the state.

“It is disturbing that the Governor made this significant declaration without broad consultation and carrying the Ethnic Nationalities along. We demand a fair playing field for all APC governorship candidates eyeing the Shendam Road Government House, ensuring that a candidate emerges through a transparent and democratic primary process.

“While we appreciate the Governor’s interest in the Nasarawa West Senatorial Zone, we must clarify that zoning has never been a legitimate practice in Nasarawa State.

“Aspirants frequently contest against formidable opponents from different zones. Zoning is unconstitutional and simply a matter of informal agreement; therefore, the people of the zone must be empowered to select their preferred candidate without external imposition.

“We demand an indigenous Governorship candidate from the APC and other political parties irrespective of religion. Anything short of an indigenous candidate we will go back to our community and mobilise our people against such injustice.

“We will not support the imposition of non-indigenous candidate on the natives, for fairness, equity and justice. Let it be noted that our loyalty lies first with our people, not with a political party.

“We urge all citizens of Nasarawa State to refrain from making provocative and disparaging remarks. We stand resolute in our commitment to safeguard the political future of our State,” he declared.