Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has expressed concerns over internal disagreements within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in three states: Kwara, Benue, and Nasarawa. He raised these issues during a meeting of the North Central Grassroots Mobilization Network in Abuja, attended by APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, Senator George Akume, and other party stakeholders. Sule noted that efforts are being made to resolve the disputes before they affect the party's electoral prospects.
The internal challenges in the three states are largely connected to competition for elective positions and differences over preferred candidates for the 2027 elections. Sule urged APC leaders and members to manage their differences responsibly and avoid public comments that could worsen divisions within the party. He emphasized that many APC members remain committed to President Bola Tinubu, but warned that disputes over other candidates could reduce the party's ability to secure votes.
Sule advised party members with reservations to exercise restraint, saying public confrontations could harm the APC's interests ahead of the polls. He stressed that voters could support Tinubu for different reasons, including personal loyalty, an assessment of his performance, or the influence of candidates they support at other levels. The governor commended the APC national leadership for promoting reconciliation, particularly the decision by the national chairman and other senior officials to attend the North Central meeting.
The North Central Grassroots Mobilization Network plans to hold a grand rally on October 10 in Lafia, Nasarawa State, as well as a medical outreach in Benue State, grassroots advocacy tours, and town hall meetings across the six states in the zone and the Federal Capital Territory. These programs aim to strengthen grassroots mobilization and secure a strong turnout for Tinubu in the presidential election scheduled for January 2027.
In September, Sule reacted to the political coalition being promoted by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. He expressed relief that Wike had not listed him among APC governors allegedly opposed to the coalition. Sule questioned the arrangement involving Wike, who remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while serving in an APC-led administration.
Wike had named Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun as three APC governors he claimed were opposed to his political activities. The APC Governors' Forum, however, rejected political arrangements that could undermine the party or its candidates in the forthcoming elections. Wike argued that voters can support different parties at different levels, citing the 2023 elections as an example.
The governor's comments come as the APC prepares for the 2027 general elections. Sule's call for restraint and responsible management of differences within the party highlights the challenges facing the APC in the lead-up to the elections. The party's ability to manage its internal disagreements and present a united front will be crucial in securing votes across various levels of the election.
Key points
- - Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule identifies Kwara, Benue, and Nasarawa as states with internal APC disagreements. - The internal challenges are largely connected to competition for elective positions and differences over preferred candidates for the 2027 elections. - Sule urges APC leaders and members to manage their differences responsibly and avoid public comments that could worsen divisions within the party.
