Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has responded sharply to comments made by former governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, who questioned his endorsement of Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada ahead of the 2027 governorship race.
Al-Makura, speaking during an interview on Politics Today on Channels Television, had expressed reservations about Sule’s public support for Wadada as his preferred aspirant, warning that it could undermine fairness within the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement issued by the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Ali Abare, Sule dismissed the concerns, insisting that his position does not interfere with the party’s internal democratic process.
According to the statement, the governor has consistently maintained that “power belongs to God” and that the APC would conduct a free and fair primary election where all aspirants, including Wadada, will participate.
“The Governor did not present Senator Wadada as the party’s candidate but as his preferred aspirant. That is a matter of personal conviction, not a violation of due process,” the statement clarified.
Responding to allegations of lack of consultation, the statement referenced Al-Makura’s own political history, recalling his endorsement of Sule as his preferred successor in 2018.
“When Senator Al-Makura chose Abdullahi Sule as his preferred successor in 2018, how many people did he consult?” it queried.
It further noted that Al-Makura had previously admitted to endorsing Sule without opposition, arguing that this weakens his current criticism.
The governor also questioned the former governor’s neutrality, pointing to his recent public remarks about former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, suggesting that such comments could influence perceptions of impartiality.
“You cannot call for a level playing field and at the same time publicly praise one aspirant as a leading contender,” the statement added.
Defending his preferred choice, Sule’s camp highlighted Senator Wadada’s political experience, noting his two-term tenure in the House of Representatives and current position in the Senate as evidence of strong credentials.
In contrast, it observed that former IGP Adamu, though respected for his public service, is yet to participate in elective politics.
“Politics requires a different kind of experience,” the statement said.
The governor urged all aspirants to remain committed to the party’s internal democratic process, stressing that the APC primary would ultimately determine its candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
“Those who disagree should prepare for the primary election. It will be free and fair. Let the process decide,” the statement concluded.