Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has clarified that the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF) had no involvement in the ministerial nomination or rejection of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
Governor Sule addressed the issue during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, emphasizing that decisions surrounding ministerial appointments are the sole prerogative of the President and relevant agencies.
“El-Rufai has not left our party; he is still part of the All Progressives Congress (APC),” Sule affirmed, dismissing speculations about El-Rufai’s status within the party.
El-Rufai, a prominent supporter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential bid, was nominated as a minister three months after Tinubu’s inauguration. However, the Senate rejected his nomination during the screening process in August 2023, reportedly due to security concerns.
Sule explained that the matter of El-Rufai’s rejection was outside the jurisdiction of the PGF or the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. “What led to his nomination and rejection by the Senate or security agencies are not issues we discussed at the Progressives Governors’ Forum or the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. These are matters beyond our concern,” he said.
He reiterated that the President has the exclusive right to nominate ministers, while the National Assembly and other agencies are responsible for confirming or rejecting such nominations. “It is the prerogative of Mr. President to nominate whoever should be his minister. He nominated, and the agencies involved, including the National Assembly, rejected the nomination. This is entirely within their responsibility,” Sule concluded.
The governor’s comments come amid continued speculation regarding El-Rufai’s ministerial prospects and his standing within the APC.
