Tinubu’s reforms responsible for influx into APC, says Governor Sule

…as Senator Wadada empowers party with 18 vehicles on return

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has attributed the influx of opposition politicians into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the ongoing fiscal reforms initiated by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

Governor Sule made this known shortly after the state working committee of the APC led by the Chairman of the party, Dr. Aliyu Bello, presented Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu signifying his official return to the party at the Government House on Monday.

Contrary to claims that opposition politicians are joining the APC because they desire to win elections come 2027, the Governor said they are joining the ruling party because of the positive impacts of the reforms initiated by President Tinubu.

He recalled how back in 2015, the then ruling party under a sitting president lost several states to the opposition essentially for non performance.

Governor Sule congratulated President Tinubu for being courageous and for embarking on critical reforms for the benefit of the country.

“I want to specifically at this moment congratulate President Ahmed Bola Tinubu. It is because of the good reforms he is bringing in and a courageous one for that matter that today, every time the Progressive Governors go for a meeting, we are welcoming one governor into our party,” he stated.

He recalled that during their recent meeting in Kebbi State, where they received the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, another governor also joined the APC.

“This is what you see as the holy Bible said, when the righteous are in control, the people rejoice. The people of Nigeria are rejoicing because we have a courageous President who is taking decisions for the benefit of the country.

“Governors who are the leaders in their states, are seeing exactly what is happening in the country and they are returning back into our party not really for them to win elections. No. They are joining our party in order for them to align with the policies of our President,” he said.

He emphasized that good leadership under the present administration led by President Tinubu is responsible for the influx into the APC.

“When people say ruling parties don’t lose Governors then they are being forgetful. In 2011, PDP had almost 30 states. But by the time the President was going into election, he lost so many states as a sitting President.

“If the party is not doing well, even as a sitting President you will lose. It is not right to think that because the APC is the ruling party that is why people are not leaving the party. They are not leaving the APC because APC is the right party today, tomorrow and forver,” he added.

Commenting on the return to the party by Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu, Governor Sule said by that singular act it has put to rest tout calling out the APC for not having a senator under the party.

He pointed out with the array of dignitaries and political stalwarts on the entourage of the lawmaker, it is only wise for the APC to welcome Senator Wadada into its fold.

“I want to congratulate Distinguished Senator Wadada because if he so wish, he could stay in his old party and be able to challenge us. But he decided to join us. Who will see these kind of people and I will not look for someone like Wadada to join me? I thank you for agreeing to join our party. I thank you for believing in our own party,” he said.

According to the Governor, Wadada’s home coming signifies a turning point for the APC in Nasarawa State, especially with the planned defection also by another SPD national lawmaker, Senator Godiya Akwashiki (SDP, Nasarawa North), as well as several state lawmakers.

Reviewing the performance of the APC in the state, he commended the state working committee of the party under the leadership of the chairman, Dr. Aliyu Bello for their collective efforts to make the ruling party stronger.

The Governor particularly commended Dr. Bello for the hard work of repositioning the party, which has resulted into the influx of opposition politicians into the APC in the state.

“I want to congratulate our Chairman of the party, Dr. Aliyu Bello, our members of the state working committee, the local government and ward committees for the good work that you are doing that I have always commended you and we are beginning to see the results of work that you are doing.

“You have done so much and not everybody is going to see what you are doing. But it is not expected for everybody to see what you are doing. What is expected is that majority of the more important people to you see what you are doing, commend you. I believe with all sense of humility, I am one of those people that you require to say thank you. And I say thank you,” he said.

Reiterating his earlier stance, Governor Sule said his administration would provide a level playing field for the best candidate to emerge to fly the flag of the party come 2027.

“We are going to be fair and just. I want to hand over to a successor who has the capacity to lead the people who has mass appeal and who is capable of winning the election,” he said.

He reassured that his administration will conduct a free, fair and transparent governorship primary election that would be acceptable to all the aspirants.

“There is no doubt that if the primary election of the party is free, fair and transparent, just like during the 2019 election, even if Senator Wadada loses out, he will support the winner,” he added.

This is just as Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu (APC, Nasarawa West), announced a donation of 18 Sharon vehicles to be distributed to the 13 local government party secretariat, as well as the three zonal offices of the party.

Senator Wadada described his return to the APC as home coming because he played a key role in the merger which led to the formation of the party in 2013, being the national financial secretary of the then New Peoples Democrstic Party (nPDP).

The Chairman, Senate Public Accounts Committee, commended the leadership style of Governor Sule which made it possible for his supporters to turn out massively to grace the occasion of his presentation and official return to the APC.

“The personalities you see here and our supporters are here in their numbers not only because Wadada called them. Neither is it because they love Wadada. No matter how much they love Wadada, if the state is not in peace, together and collectively as a result of your style of stewardship, we won’t be able to be here. The party won’t be able welcome me,” he said.

He urged the Governor to sustain the tempo by providing a level playing field for the people of Nasarawa State to be able to decide who emerges as his successor come 2027.

“I am here today, having been presented to you by the party, to say to you, I have never been a loner. Everywhere I go, my network is wide. My network covers everywhere. My network covers all sectors of our livelihoods. Wadada has the pastors. Wadada has the Imams. Wadada has the royal fathers. Wadada has the women. Wadada has the youths. I am here to tell you. I have returned to my home,” he added.

Earlier, while presenting Senator Wadada to the Governor, Nasarawa State Chairman of the APC, Dr. Aliyu Bello, recalled that in 2023, even though circumstances compelled Wadada to leave the party, he worked tirelessly for the successes of both President Tinubu and Governor Sule.

Dr. Bello commended the Governor for allowing his efforts towards strengthening the party in the state which is seeing the influx of elected officials into the party.

“Your Excellency, you have provided the needed and required infrastructure in terms of security, education, healthcare. That is why all the people that are coming to contest for election they see something that is good, germain and very important, which is why they are opting for the APC. Because if there is nothing good in APC, they wouldn’t have come to aspire to be governor or senator or any other position under the party,” he said.

The state party chairman used the opportunity of the event to tender his apology over his recent response to continous personal attacks from his detractors, assuring that as a leader of the party, he will not longer join issues with anyone for the unity of the APC.

“I am now a leader. I will stop responding to anything. Because I want all of us to come together. Whoever emerges as the gubernatorial candidate under the APC we are going to work for that person,” he said.

Highpoint of the event was the handing over of the 18 vehicles by Senator Wadada to Governor Sule for onward distribution to the beneficiaries.