Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has firmly debunked claims suggesting that former President Muhammadu Buhari and ex-Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, are planning to defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections.
The governor made the clarification on Friday during a grand civic reception organised by the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Nasarawa State chapter, in honour of the Secretary to the State Government, Labaran Magaji, in Lafia.
Speaking to a gathering of party stakeholders and political leaders, Governor Sule stated unequivocally that both Buhari and Malami remain committed members of the APC and are not considering leaving the party. According to him, efforts by some political elements to sow discord within the APC by pushing a defection narrative will not succeed.
“There is nothing like taking CPC away. Our father, former President Muhammadu Buhari, is CPC — no other person,” Sule said, referencing the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which merged with other parties to form the APC in 2013. “When he says CPC is with you, CPC is with you. He carries his 12 million voters with him, and he is not going anywhere from the APC,” the governor asserted.
He also took a firm stance on Malami’s political future, stating, “They want to take Malami away, but let me tell you that Malami is going nowhere. He is part of the team and remains committed to the APC project.”
Governor Sule further disclosed that he and other political stakeholders recently visited the former president in Kaduna to reaffirm the unity of the party and dispel any notions of internal crisis. “We told Baba in Kaduna, ‘You’re not going anywhere, and Malami, you’re not going anywhere either.’ We will build this party together,” he said.
His remarks come amid swirling speculation that some loyalists of the CPC bloc within the APC are feeling sidelined under the current political dispensation, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. However, Sule maintained that the party remains united and focused on delivering governance ahead of the 2027 elections.
Governor Sule also used the occasion to address the rising number of aspirants eyeing his seat, revealing that no fewer than 20 politicians have shown interest in contesting the 2027 governorship election in Nasarawa State. He stressed that he has no preferred candidate and would allow divine will and the people’s choice to prevail.
The governor’s comments are being viewed by political observers as a timely intervention aimed at stabilising the APC’s internal structure and reaffirming the continued loyalty of influential figures like Buhari and Malami as the 2027 electoral cycle approaches.
