2027: Nasarawa govt reacts to alleged Sule, Atiku secret meeting in Saudi Arabia

By Oboh Linus

The Nasarawa State Government has described a report that Gov. Abdullahi Sule held a secret meeting with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in Saudi Arabia over 2027 presidential election as published by an online medium, as “a complete fabrication” and “entirely false.”

The online newspaper, had in the exclusive report claimed Governor Sule, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC had promised that he will support Atiku who will contest the presidency on the platform of African Democratic Congress, ADC in the 2027 election.

This, the report insinuated, will mean that the Nasarawa Governor will not support the re-election of President Bola Tinubu for a second term of office.

However, in a rebuttal of the claims in the report, the Nasarawa State Government said although Sule travelled to Saudi Arabia to perform the lesser Hajj, he did not meet with Abubakar or any of his associates during the trip.

“At no point during his stay did the governor meet with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar. There was no meeting, no dinner and no agreement of any kind,” Mr Ibrahim Addra, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Nasarwa governor said in a statement on Friday in Lafia.

According to the statement, Governor Sule was not aware of Abubakar’s presence in Saudi Arabia, contrary to claims in the report.

The CPS noted that even the spokesperson to the former vice-president, Mr Paul Ibe, was quoted as saying he was not aware of such a meeting.

Addra described the publication as “fiction dressed as journalism” and alleged that it was politically motivated.

He said the report came shortly after Sule publicly reaffirmed his support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration and his re-election bid ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“Few days ago at the APC zonal congress, Gov. Sule stood firmly with his party and the President when he seconded the motion moved by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, for the North Central zone of the party adopt President Bola Tinubu as its sole presidential candidate for the 2027 general election,” he said.

The spokesman stressed that the governor remained loyal to the APC and had consistently demonstrated support for the president.

“Gov. Sule has, on several occasions, publicly extolled the leadership of President Tinubu and affirmed his commitment to the administration.

“He does not say one thing in public and another in private,” he said.

Addra further alleged that unnamed political actors were behind the report in a bid to create disaffection between the governor and the president.

He urged the public to disregard the publication, describing it as misleading and aimed at political sabotage.

The CPS also called on the media organisation to retract the story and issue an apology.

“Journalism carries a huge responsibility. Publishing a story of this magnitude without credible evidence or confirmation from the principal actors falls below acceptable standards,” he said.

He reaffirmed Sule’s commitment to the APC, President Tinubu and the people of Nasarawa State.

“Governor Sule remains focused on governance and will not be distracted by unfounded allegations,” Addra said. (NAN)