Al-Makura faults Gov Sule over alleged breach of APC primary process

Former Nasarawa State Governor and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tanko Al-Makura, has criticised Governor Abdullahi Sule over the reported endorsement of Senator Ahmed Wadada as his preferred successor, describing the move as premature and a violation of party procedures.

Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, Al-Makura said he was neither consulted nor informed before the governor allegedly presented Wadada to President Bola Tinubu as a preferred candidate.

He said, “I can say without any fear of contradiction that I was not consulted before any candidate was taken to the Villa,” Al-Makura stated during the live interview from Abuja.

The former governor described the development as “an aberration” and “a little too hasty,” stressing that the APC had yet to release official guidelines for the primary process. According to him, multiple aspirants are still in contention, making any form of endorsement at this stage inappropriate.

Al-Makura emphasised that while Governor Sule has the constitutional right to support any candidate of his choice, such preferences must not override established party procedures.

“Due process must be followed. We had agreed during a stakeholders’ meeting that the party would adopt direct primaries. At this stage, no one should be presented as a successor when key steps in the process have not been completed.”

He further argued that presenting a candidate to the president without broad consultation among party stakeholders undermines internal democracy and could create tension within the party.

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“It is not fair to the party, the stakeholders, or even Mr. President that someone is taken to him without consensus or consultation,” he added.

On the issue of personal preference, Al-Makura dismissed claims that he is backing a particular aspirant, including former Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu. Instead, he maintained that his priority is ensuring a transparent and credible process that produces a widely accepted candidate.

“The person I prefer is the one who can strengthen the party and ensure its success,” he said, noting that several aspirants have been actively engaging party members across the state.

Addressing recent protests by some party supporters, Al-Makura warned that sidelining due process could provoke discontent and weaken party unity ahead of elections.

“When leaders short-circuit the process, it creates dissatisfaction and erodes confidence. That is dangerous for the party,” he cautioned.

Reflecting on his own tenure, Al-Makura acknowledged that he had a preferred successor but insisted he did not impose his choice outside the established democratic process.

“I supported a candidate, but not at the expense of fairness. Every aspirant must have confidence that the process is free and credible,” he said.

He called on APC leaders in Nasarawa State to adhere strictly to party guidelines to preserve unity and ensure electoral success in upcoming contests.