Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa state has been linked to a secret meeting with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The meeting, which took place on March 11, 2026, at the Conrad Jabal Omar Hotel, was a closed-door discussion that lasted approximately two hours. It is reported that the meeting occurred during iftar, the evening meal Muslims eat after sunset during Ramadan.
Atiku Abubakar, a former chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, joined the African Democratic Congress in 2025 to challenge President Bola Tinubu's second term bid. Governor Sule, who has ruled out seeking political office after completing his second term as governor, has expressed interest in running for the Nasarawa North senatorial seat in 2027.
According to sources, Governor Sule's meeting with Atiku Abubakar aimed to secure a position for himself in the event of Atiku's presidential victory. One source described the governor as "putting his eggs in more than one basket." The meeting also reportedly focused on Atiku's plans to return power to the north.
Details of the meeting's financial implications are unclear, but Atiku's personal finances have been strained due to his unsuccessful presidential campaigns and business losses. His logistics giant, Intels, was targeted by the Buhari administration, further depleting his resources.
The meeting has raised concerns within the Tinubu camp, with some ruling party governors and senators potentially planning to sabotage the president's reelection bid in favor of Atiku Abubakar.
Governor Abdullahi Sule's secret meeting with Atiku Abubakar in Saudi Arabia raises questions about the loyalty of APC governors to President Tinubu. Sule's decision to back Atiku's presidential bid and potentially secure a position for himself suggests a calculated move to undermine the president's chances. This development has significant implications for the 2027 presidential election, particularly in the north where Atiku's support is crucial. The Tinubu camp's concerns about potential sabotage from ruling party governors and senators are well-founded, given Sule's actions. As the election approaches, Nigerians will be watching closely to see how this plays out, and what it means for the country's political landscape.
