By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
The Nasarawa State Government has strongly refuted reports claiming that Governor Abdullahi Sule held a secret meeting with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar during the lesser Hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
In a statement issued on Friday, the government described the allegations as entirely false, labeling them a politically motivated fabrication aimed at straining the governor’s relationship with President Bola Tinubu.
Ibrahim Addra, the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, clarified that no such meeting took place, emphasizing that Governor Sule did not meet with Mr. Abubakar or any of his associates throughout the trip.
“At no point during his stay did Governor Sule meet with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or anyone close to him,” Mr. Addra stated. He added that the governor was unaware of Mr. Abubakar’s presence in Saudi Arabia and dismissed claims of a two-hour dinner or any form of agreement as baseless.
“There was no meeting, no discussion, and no pledge of financial support. The allegations are fiction dressed as journalism,” the statement read.
The government noted that the claims were further cast into doubt after Paul Ibe, a spokesperson for the former vice president, reportedly said he had no knowledge of any such meeting.
The statement accused unnamed political actors of orchestrating the narrative as an act of sabotage. It argued that the allegations were designed to undermine the governor’s credibility and damage his political standing ahead of the 2027 elections.
Reaffirming the governor’s loyalty to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the statement highlighted that Mr. Sule recently seconded a motion for the North-Central zone to adopt President Tinubu as the party’s sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
“Governor Sule has always publicly expressed his support for President Tinubu and his administration. He does not say one thing in public and another in private,” the statement added.
The government urged the public to disregard the report, insisting it is baseless and a calculated act of political sabotage.
