Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, Has Addressed The Lingering Controversy Surrounding Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s Ministerial Nomination And Current Status Within The All Progressives Congress (APC).
Sule Stated That The Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF) Cannot Intervene In The Matter Of El-Rufai’s Failed Ministerial Nomination. Despite The Senate Rejecting His Nomination In August 2023 Due To Security Concerns Raised By The Department Of State Services (DSS), Sule Affirmed That El-Rufai Remains An APC Member.
President Bola Tinubu Had Nominated El-Rufai Three Months After Assuming Office, But The Senate’s Decision Has Left The Former Governor Absent From APC Events And Presidential Villa Engagements. His Appearances Alongside Social Democratic Party (SDP) Leaders Have Fueled Defection Rumors, Although El-Rufai Has Repeatedly Denied These Claims.
Adding To The Tensions, El-Rufai Is Embroiled In A Feud With His Successor, Governor Sani Uba. The Kaduna State Assembly Has Launched A Corruption Probe Into El-Rufai’s Eight-Year Tenure, Further Complicating His Political Standing.
“El-Rufai Has Not Left Our Party; He Is Still Part Of Our Party,” Sule Said During An Appearance On Channels Television’s Politics Today On Wednesday, January 8. “What Led To His Nomination, What Led To His Rejection By The Senate Or By The Security Agencies, To Be Honest With You, Are Not Issues We Discussed Either At The Progressives Governors’ Forum Or Even The Nigeria Governors’ Forum. They Are Not Issues Because What Doesn’t Concern Us, We Can Do Nothing About It. It Is The Prerogative Of Mr President To Nominate Whoever Should Be His Minister And He Nominated. Also, There Are Agencies Including The National Assembly That Either Confirm Or Reject And They Rejected (Him).”
