KEY POINTS

• PGF didn’t handle El-Rufai’s ministerial nomination, says Governor Sule.
• With Senate rejection, El-Rufai remains a committed member of the APC.
• The appointment of the ministers is the prerogative of the President alone and the function of the Senate.

The governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, also stated that PGF cannot dictate or interfere in the situation in which former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai is over his nomination as minister.

Speaking Wednesday in an interview, Sule stated that ministerial appointments and their confirmation are outside the purview of the PGF or the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

El-Rufai is still in the APC

However, the Senate earlier rejected El-Rufai’s ministerial nomination in August 2023 but Governor Sule has affirmed El Rufai’s membership in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“No, he has not left our party; he is still a member of our party,” said Sule, dismissing talk that El-Rufai had left the party.

For appointments beyond PGF’s scope

Sule told Channels Television that the processes which led to El Rufai’s nomination and eventually rejected by other entities like security agencies and the National Assembly.

“We did not discuss what led to his nomination and rejection at Progressives Governors’ Forum, or at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum,” Sule said. The prerogative of Mr President is to nominate his ministers, and the Senate and other relevant agencies are to confirm or reject them.”

Focus on party unity

The governor also dismissed the rejection of El-Rufai’s nomination as a point of contention within the APC. “These are processes that are independent from the party.” Sule, however, said our role as governors is to support party’s unity and stability.