***Appointees Defying Sule’s Directive, Undermining Governance, Group Warns
By Abel Daniel, Lafia
A civic watchdog group, the Nasarawa State Transparency, Accountability, and Good Governance Group (NSTA&G²), has sounded the alarm over what it describes as a growing wave of insubordination and blatant disregard for Nigeria’s electoral laws among top appointees in Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration.
At the centre of the group’s allegations is the Accountant General of the state, Hon. Musa Ahmed Mohammed Barade, a former Speaker of the State Assembly, who is accused of engaging in covert political activities despite a subsisting directive barring political campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at a press conference in Lafia on Monday, the group’s spokesperson, Mr. Lazarus Salaki, decried the alleged misconduct, warning that if left unchecked, it could undermine public trust, weaken governance, and set a dangerous precedent for political accountability in the state.
“We are deeply concerned that political office holders are ignoring Governor Sule’s clear directive and the INEC’s guidelines by engaging in premature politicking while still holding public office,” Salaki said. “This is a serious distraction from the administration’s core objectives and a potential abuse of state resources.”
The group made reference to a memo dated April 16, 2024, in which Governor Sule instructed all political appointees with electoral ambitions to either resign or suspend political activities until the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially lifts the ban on campaigns.
Despite this, the group alleges that some officials have continued politicking behind the scenes, using their public office and government resources to advance personal ambitions.
The group further referenced Governor Sule’s own recent statement in Wamba, where he warned that disloyalty and insubordination among appointees would no longer be tolerated.
According to the NSTA&G², public perception now suggests that the Accountant General’s office is being exploited for political leverage and possibly even the misappropriation of public funds, urging Hon. Barade to resign if he intends to contest in 2027.
“His continued stay in office while nursing political ambitions sends the wrong signals, erodes the administration’s credibility, and undermines discipline within the APC,” the group stressed.
They concluded with a passionate appeal to Governor Sule to enforce discipline and uphold the integrity of his administration, insisting that the time to act is now—before governance is overshadowed by ambition.
