Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, recently addressed the issue of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai’s rejection as a minister. Sule emphasized that the rejection was not related to the APC Governors’ Forum and explained that the matter was entirely in the hands of the President and the Senate.

El-Rufai was a key figure in Bola Tinubu’s campaign for the presidency in 2023. He strongly supported Tinubu, alongside other northern governors, helping him secure the APC presidential ticket. As a reward for his support, President Tinubu nominated El-Rufai for a ministerial position shortly after taking office. However, during the ministerial screening, El-Rufai was rejected by the Senate.

Governor Sule, who is also a member of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, clarified that the rejection was not something discussed within the forum. He explained that such matters are the responsibility of the President and relevant authorities, including the Senate. He also reassured that El-Rufai has not left the APC and remains a part of the party.

“It is the prerogative of Mr. President to nominate his ministers, and the Senate and other agencies play a role in confirming or rejecting them. What happened with El-Rufai’s nomination is not something the Governors’ Forum got involved in,” Sule said during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

This statement has cleared the air about the Progressive Governors’ Forum’s role in the rejection of El-Rufai’s nomination, reinforcing that decisions around ministerial appointments are ultimately the President’s responsibility.