Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has said the 1999 Constitution does not require political parties or governments to balance appointments or electoral tickets along religious lines, insisting that its provisions focus on inclusiveness, federal character and ethnic representation.
Speaking on Tuesday during an appearance on Politics Today on Channels Television, Sule responded to criticism by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) 2027 vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, over issues of representation in government.
The governor dismissed Kwankwaso’s remarks as typical of opposition politics.
“I think it is normal for Senator Kwankwaso, whom I respect a lot, to say that because he’s in the opposition. He cannot say anything good. It is expected of him to say that,” Sule said.
Explaining his position, the governor argued that the constitutional provisions on inclusiveness are frequently misinterpreted.
According to him, Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution provides for equitable representation and federal character, while Section 15 addresses issues relating to ethnicity. He maintained that neither section makes religious balancing a constitutional requirement.
“You can see both elections have been clear that the Muslim-Muslim ticket has won. I pray that one day Nigeria will have a Christian-Christian ticket, and it will win,” Sule stated.
He also defended his decision to appoint a Christian as his deputy governor, saying the choice was based on merit and competence rather than religious considerations.
Sule added that the political realities in Nasarawa State differ from those at the national level, stressing that leadership decisions should be guided by the circumstances and needs of each jurisdiction.
