By Omeiza Ajayi

All 13 local government chairmen in Nasarawa State and the full membership of the state House of Assembly were on Tuesday in Abuja to back Senator Ahmed Wadada as he submitted his nomination and expression of interest forms for the All Progressives Congress APC governorship ticket.

The deputy governor of Nasarawa State, Dr. Emmanuel Agbadu Akabe, the state accountant general, principal officers of the legislature, members of the state executive committee, and the National Union of Road Transport Workers were also part of the crowd that accompanied Wadada for the exercise.

“The entire 13 local government chairmen of Nasarawa State are here. The entire legislature of Nasarawa State, from the Speaker, principal officers and members of the state assembly are here,” Wadada told journalists after submitting the forms, describing the turnout as a reflection of broad-based support from across the state.

The senator acknowledged fellow aspirants who stepped aside following Governor Abdullahi Sule’s adoption of his candidacy, saying their conduct demonstrated honour and integrity. “To my fellow aspirants who have supported what the governor has decided, I cannot thank you enough. May Allah reward you abundantly,” he said.

Wadada paid tribute to Governor Sule, saying his administration had elevated Nasarawa beyond its immediate peers. “May Allah in his infinite mercy reward Governor A.A. Sule for making Nasarawa State what it is today. Nasarawa State is the pride of West Africa, not only Nigeria,” he said.

The senator also laid out an economic vision rooted in Nasarawa’s geographic closeness to the Federal Capital Territory FCT, describing that proximity as an untapped advantage the state must actively exploit.

“Nasarawa is Nigeria. Nasarawa State is the closest state to the FCT. Our proximity is an asset to us and we shall leverage on it,” he said, adding that the state remained an investment destination with significant endowments yet to be fully utilized.

Wadada also praised President Bola Tinubu, attributing the scale of federal allocations reaching Nasarawa to the removal of fuel subsidies, and urged Nigerians to back the President’s economic reforms.