Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has stated that the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF) has no role in resolving former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s ministerial nomination controversy.
Sule, a member of the PGF, emphasised that El-Rufai remains a loyal member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), despite his rejection by the Senate in August 2023. Speaking on Politics Today aired by Channels Television, Sule said, “El-Rufai has not left our party; he is still part of our party.”
The governor clarified that El-Rufai’s ministerial ordeal was not discussed by the PGF or the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, as the matter falls outside their remit. “It is the prerogative of Mr President to nominate his ministers, and the agencies, including the National Assembly, decide to confirm or reject them,” Sule explained.
El-Rufai’s rejection was attributed to security concerns raised by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The former Kaduna governor, who played a key role in securing the APC presidential ticket for Bola Tinubu in 2023, was a vocal advocate for power rotation to the South after President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.
While Tinubu nominated El-Rufai for a ministerial role, the Senate rejected his candidacy, leading to speculation about his political future. El-Rufai has since distanced himself from APC gatherings and been linked to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), though he denies any intention to defect.
Additionally, his relationship with his successor, Governor Sani Uba, has soured, with the Kaduna State Assembly probing his administration over alleged corruption, a charge he has refuted.