Abdullahi Sule, the governor of Nasarawa state, has clarified that the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF) played no role in the non-confirmation of Nasir el-Rufai as a minister in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.
In August 2023, the Nigerian Senate withheld el-Rufai’s confirmation as a minister, citing issues related to security clearance. This development fueled speculation about el-Rufai’s political future, including rumors of his defection to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Sule dismissed such speculations and confirmed that el-Rufai remains a committed member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“El-Rufai has not left our party; he is still part of our party,” Sule stated. He explained that matters surrounding el-Rufai’s nomination and subsequent rejection by the Senate were outside the jurisdiction of the PGF and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).
“What led to el-Rufai’s 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,” Sule said.
The governor emphasized that ministerial appointments and confirmations are the exclusive responsibility of the president and other authorized agencies, adding that the governors had no input in these processes.
“It is the prerogative of Mr. President to nominate whoever should be his minister, and he nominated,” Sule said. “Also, there are agencies, including the National Assembly, that either confirm or reject, and they rejected.”
On the APC’s prospects in future elections, including the presidency, Sule expressed confidence in the party’s ability to retain power.
“I have said, with due respect, that I am not scared. I have also stated that the performance of the party depends not only on its achievements at the central level but also at the state level,” he remarked.
“Elections are not held solely at the central level; they take place in states, various wards, and units. So, if you look at the performance of the current governor, you can’t say there’s any reason to be scared,” Sule added.
El-Rufai has yet to comment publicly on the governor’s remarks.