Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has attributed the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s defeat in the just-concluded Osun State governorship election partly to what he described as interference by “Abuja politicians.”

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Sule made the allegation on Tuesday while presenting Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) acknowledgement slips to APC candidates contesting the governorship and State House of Assembly elections in Nasarawa State.

The Nasarawa governor said the APC governorship candidate in Osun, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, would have emerged victorious if politicians from outside the state had not interfered in the election.

“APC lost partly because of the Abuja politicians, you know, because if not for some of these Abuja politicians, there was no way for APC to lose in Osun,” Sule said.

Governor Ademola Adeleke was declared winner of the Osun governorship election after defeating his major challenger, Oyebamiji, in the contest.

Sule further argued that the result demonstrated the strength and influence of a sitting governor, rather than simply reflecting the popularity of the victorious party.

“So, for people who are celebrating, they don’t even understand what the hell they are celebrating. What they are celebrating is that the power of a sitting governor in Osun is what has stopped them from winning,” he stated.

The Nasarawa governor also expressed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the President had performed well since assuming office.

“I’m not going to brag about anything that we are going to do, but what I can tell you is that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done well,” Sule said.

Turning his attention to the 2027 general elections, Sule urged APC candidates in Nasarawa to remain focused on strengthening the party and avoid actions capable of creating divisions within its ranks.

He specifically warned against sycophancy, blackmail, underhand tactics and anti-party activities, urging candidates to campaign for the APC rather than secretly supporting candidates of other political parties.

“It is time, because politics actually involves, you know, a lot of sycophancy, blackmail, you know, underhand, and things like that. I’m begging you in the name of God, don’t get involved in that,” he said.

Sule cautioned candidates against attempting to campaign simultaneously for APC candidates and candidates of rival parties, saying voters would notice such conduct and could respond accordingly.

“When you are campaigning, campaign for APC. Don’t go with the drama that maybe I can actually campaign for myself and campaign for another candidate of another party; if you do that, you know, people will see. And the people that see, they are also going to make sure that they react to you in that manner,” he added.

The governor also rejected what he described as political practices involving anti-party activities and realignment, urging APC members to remain committed to the party.

“I don’t believe in this anti-party, I don’t believe in this realignment, I don’t believe in that. And I’m begging you also not to believe in the same,” Sule stated.

He urged the candidates to remain loyal to the APC, mobilise voters and support the party’s candidates during the forthcoming elections.

“Go out there and vote for the party that you believe in,” he told the candidates.

Sule’s comments come amid renewed debate within the APC over the lessons from its Osun defeat and the strategies required to prevent similar setbacks ahead of the 2027 general elections.