From Abel Zwanke, Lafia
The Nasarawa State Government has dismissed as “false” and “fabricated” a report alleging that Governor Abdullahi Sule met with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in Saudi Arabia to plot against President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ibrahim Addra, described the report by Peoples Gazette as “reckless, mischievous and utterly irresponsible,” insisting that no such meeting ever occurred.
The report had claimed that Governor Sule met Atiku in Mecca during the lesser Hajj and allegedly pledged financial support to unseat President Tinubu in the next presidential election. The state government, however, refuted the claim entirely.
“We wish to state, without any equivocation whatsoever, that this story is a complete fabrication. It is false in its entirety. It did not happen and indeed will not happen,” Addra said.
He confirmed that the governor traveled to Saudi Arabia strictly for religious purposes, noting that the trip was solely to perform the lesser Hajj. “At no point during his stay did he meet with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or anyone close to him,” Addra stressed.
The statement further dismissed specific claims of a two-hour dinner at the Conrad Jabal Omar Hotel and any alleged financial pledge as fictitious. Addra highlighted that Atiku’s spokesman, Paul Ibe, reportedly confirmed he was unaware of any such meeting.
The Nasarawa government also questioned the timing of the publication, linking it to recent political developments within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The statement noted that Governor Sule had recently endorsed President Tinubu as the sole APC presidential candidate for the 2027 election in the North Central zone, affirming his loyalty.
“Governor Sule has consistently and publicly extolled the leadership qualities of President Tinubu and affirmed his unshakeable support for the president’s administration and re-election bid,” Addra said. He described any suggestion to the contrary as “junk journalism” and a deliberate attempt to undermine their relationship.
The statement also alleged that unnamed political actors were behind the report, seeking to create disaffection between the governor and the presidency ahead of 2027. “As the 2027 elections draw closer, certain desperate and faceless actors have made it their mission to damage the strong relationship that exists between President Tinubu and Governor Sule. That plan will fail,” Addra added.
The government urged the public to disregard the report and called on Peoples Gazette to retract the publication and issue an apology. Addra also stressed the media’s responsibility to uphold professional standards, warning against relying on anonymous sources without verification.
“Governor Sule remains committed to the APC, committed to President Tinubu, and committed to the people of Nasarawa State. No amount of political mischief will change that,” the statement concluded.
