Tinubu’s 2027 Endorsement Is a Vote of Confidence, Not a Mockery — Gov. Abdullahi Sule

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has defended the endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by All Progressives Congress (APC) governors ahead of the 2027 presidential elections, saying it is a sign of respect for the president’s performance, not an insult to the intelligence of Nigerians.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s “Sunday Politics,” Governor Sule said the endorsement was based on genuine conviction, not political theatre.

“It is a conviction of the governors; it is a belief of the governors. There is no sign of mockery in this,” Sule stated.

Last week, all 22 APC governors, members of the National Assembly, the National Working Committee (NWC), and the party’s zonal leaders threw their weight behind President Tinubu, declaring him the party’s sole candidate for the 2027 presidential race even though he has yet to formally announce his intention to run.

The move has drawn criticism from opposition parties and civic groups who argue that the president should focus on national governance challenges rather than early campaign efforts.

Governor Sule pushed back against the backlash, pointing out that such endorsements are common in Nigerian politics, including during the era of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

“In 2014, the PDP governors endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan. The world didn’t end, and no one accused them of mocking the people,” he said.

He added that the support for Tinubu is grounded in performance, not political manipulation:

“It is all part of the belief of the governors of the ruling party that the President has done well and has done much.”

In response to growing concerns that Nigeria is sliding into de facto one-party rule, Sule firmly rejected the idea, insisting that political plurality remains intact.

“We are not becoming a one-party state. The opposition still exists and will continue to play its role,” he said.