By Francis Nansak, Lafia

From the ground and by his record of service, Dr. Faisal Shuaib enters the Nasarawa West race with clear momentum to succeed Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu, who conceded with integrity to obey the choice of Governor Abdullahi Sule.

With Senator Wadada now pursuing the governorship of Nasarawa State, the senatorial district has been thrown open. Dr. Shuaib’s blend of technocratic credibility, grassroots reach, and alignment with the APC structure positions him as the frontrunner.

Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu currently holds the Nasarawa West seat and commands strong name recognition across Karu, Keffi, Kokona, Nasarawa, and Toto LGAs. His decision to run for governor creates a rare open seat in a district that usually rewards incumbency.

Voters in Nasarawa West tend to favor continuity of party and ideology over total disruption. Dr. Shuaib stands to benefit directly because he is being framed, and is positioning himself, as the candidate who can protect Wadada’s legislative gains while bringing a different set of skills.

Dr. Faisal Shuaib is not a career politician in the traditional sense. He built a national profile as Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, where he led Nigeria’s polio eradication and COVID-19 vaccination efforts.

In Nasarawa West, that matters. The district has a mix of urban sprawl in Karu and Keffi, farming communities in Kokona and Toto, and border trade issues. His background signals competence in health, emergency response, and federal liaison — issues constituents constantly raise regarding clinics, drugs, and federal projects.

That technocratic brand helps him appeal to both elite stakeholders and voters tired of rhetoric.

Nasarawa West has rotated power among the Keffi and Nasarawa axes for over two decades. Precisely since 1999, the APC remains dominant at both state and federal levels in the district.

If Shuaib secures the Senate seat, he automatically inherits the party’s structure, council chairmen, and the governor’s campaign network that will also be mobilizing for Wadada’s governorship bid.

That alignment creates a “double ticket” effect: people voting for Wadada as governor are likely to vote for *Dr. Faisal* for Senate to keep the team intact.

In Nasarawa West, voters are pragmatic. They ask: what has a candidate delivered before, and what federal connections can they leverage?

Interestingly, Dr. Shuaib can point to national health interventions, donor relationships, and experience navigating federal ministries. That contrasts with other contestants who are only known locally. His challenge will be to translate that national profile into town halls, ward meetings, and visible projects.

The PDP, ADC, and even LP will try to frame the seat as a check on one-party dominance, especially in Karu and Toto with their large youth and migrant populations.

However, the open seat, APC dominance, and Shuaib’s service record give him a structural advantage. If he runs a disciplined campaign focused on health infrastructure, youth employment, and federal project attraction, and stays aligned with the Wadada governorship movement, he has the clearest path to win Nasarawa West.

It will be recalled that in January 2027, Dr. Faisal Shuaib of the APC, along with Dr. Kefas Kaura of the PDP and Alhaji Umar Galadima of the ADC, will contest for the Senate seat being vacated by Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu.

Political observers note that the PDP and ADC candidates lack the structural and economic muscle to withstand Dr. Faisal Shuaib, citing factors that include incumbency advantage and federal reach.