Nasarawa Governor Abdullahi Sule has pledged support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reelection bid in 2027, dismissing rumours of political double-dealing and reaffirming loyalty to the President and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a televised interview with TVC News on Tuesday evening, Governor Sule addressed mounting speculation about his political allegiance, particularly in the context of his previous remarks linking the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) to former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The comments sparked criticism from the North Central APC Forum, who accused him of playing between Buhari and Tinubu.
Governor Sule was unequivocal in his response.
“President [Tinubu] shouldn’t be worried about my support. Abdullahi A. Sule, the engineer, the Governor of Nasarawa State, will support President Tinubu 100%. No ambiguity, no challenge. Some of us are not known for Abuja politics. We are not looking for any favours. I am a governor; I don’t need special favours. When I talk, I talk straight,” he said.
Sule emphasized his loyalty lies firmly with the APC and Tinubu, urging party members to unite behind the President’s leadership as the 2027 election cycle approaches.
“We the governors of the APC from the northern region were the same people that told President Buhari at the time: ‘President, you have been there for eight years, you are from the North, it is time for the South. I still hold that position.
“President Tinubu must be allowed to complete his eight years. As far as APC is concerned, nobody from the North should even think of anything else other than supporting President Tinubu,” he added.
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Responding to concerns raised about former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s comments that President Tinubu enjoys less support in the North than he did in 2023, Sule dismissed the suggestion his commitment was in doubt.
“People who live in Abuja and think they can gain favours by creating confusion are the ones spreading such ideas. There are some people who don’t have the power to speak on behalf of CPC, and they are trying to cause division. But in reality, President Buhari is in total support of President Tinubu,” he said.
Sule clarified his controversial reference to the former CPC’s voter base and leadership, saying it was not intended to question Tinubu’s authority or support.
Rather, he argued, it was to acknowledge the historical roles of both leaders in the formation of the APC.
“In the same way nobody can speak about ACN better than President Tinubu, nobody can speak about CPC better than President Buhari. They are the true architects of the APC. These two men must remain united for the party to remain strong,” he said.
He added that his political roots lie in the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), not the CPC, countering the notion that he was aligned with CPC loyalists working against Tinubu.
“I was the AC governorship candidate in 2007, so I know what I’m talking about. I have never been CPC. So when people try to label me as such, they’re misrepresenting the facts,” Sule said.
He also pointed out that historical election results in Nasarawa disprove the notion of a rigid CPC political bloc, saying “in 2011, when Governor Al Makura won under CPC, President Buhari lost Nasarawa. Even in 2015, under APC, Buhari still lost in Nasarawa. So it’s not about CPC or APC, it’s about the people and the leaders they trust”.
On the issue of President Buhari’s enduring influence, Sule acknowledged the former president’s status within the party but stressed that it should not be misconstrued as a threat to Tinubu’s leadership.
“Yes, I respect President Buhari, but my President is President Tinubu, whom I will support any day, anytime, anyhow,” he said. He further dismissed insinuations of division within the party, arguing that Buhari and Tinubu remain committed to the success of the APC.
