Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has dismissed comparisons between President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima and the opposition contenders ahead of the 2027 presidential election, insisting that the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket is far ahead of its rivals in terms of performance and achievements.
Sule made the statement on Tuesday while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he defended the Tinubu administration and maintained that its record in office would be the major factor determining the outcome of the 2027 presidential election.
The governor was responding to a question on why Nigerians should support the Tinubu-Shettima ticket over possible opposition combinations, including Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, as well as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi.
Sule said there was no basis for comparing the APC presidential ticket with the opposition contenders.
“It’s like day and night; you cannot even compare,” the governor said.
He argued that the Tinubu administration had demonstrated courage, foresight and performance in its first three years in office, adding that the achievements recorded under the government could not be compared with those of its opponents.
“If you look at the record of this President, if you look at the courage, the performance, and the foresight of this President, if you look at what has happened in the last three years, you cannot compare it with the records of the other people,” Sule said.
The governor acknowledged that insecurity remained one of the major challenges confronting the country but argued that the problem did not begin with the Tinubu administration.
“I know what you’re going to throw out—insecurity—as if insecurity started in the last three years,” he said.
Sule, however, maintained that despite the security challenges, the Tinubu administration had made what he described as significant progress in infrastructure, education and the economy.
He pointed to ongoing infrastructure projects across the country, saying the scale of development had surprised many Nigerians who did not expect such projects to be delivered.
“Look at all the infrastructure that is happening in this country. A lot of people will tell you it is like a dream; they never thought it would happen,” he said.
The Nasarawa governor also cited the activities of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and developments in the capital market as examples of the administration’s achievements.
“Look at what NELFUND is doing today. Look at the capital market and how it has grown. That is why I said you cannot even compare,” Sule added.
He further argued that President Tinubu’s quest for a second term in office would be based on the performance of his administration and not electoral manipulation.
Sule also expressed confidence in the political strength of the APC, noting that the party currently controls 31 states through its elected governors.
On the controversy surrounding the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, the governor defended the decision to field two Muslim candidates, arguing that the arrangement had not led to the marginalisation of Christians or any other religious group in government.
He recalled that Nigeria had witnessed a similar political arrangement during the presidential campaign of the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, stressing that competence and the ability to deliver good governance should be prioritised over religious considerations.
The governor’s comments come as political activities and realignments intensify ahead of the 2027 general election.
In the 2023 presidential election, Tinubu and Shettima, who contested on the platform of the APC, defeated Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
Tinubu secured more than eight million votes to win the election, while Atiku and Obi each polled more than six million votes. Kwankwaso secured over one million votes.
With the 2027 election approaching, the opposition political camp has witnessed significant realignments, with various political figures and parties working towards forming alliances to challenge the ruling APC.
Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso are reportedly being positioned within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) alliance, while former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi are leading another opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The political alignments are expected to shape the contest for the presidency as parties and candidates intensify preparations for the 2027 general election.
