Sükan was born in Karaman. In 1946, he graduated from the School of Medicine at İstanbul University. After practicing as a Doctor of Medicine, he got interested in politics, and joined Democrat Party (DP). In 1957, he was elected as the mayor of Ereğli in Konya Province. The government of the Democrat Party was overthrown during the 1960 coup d'état. After the DP was banned, Sükan joined the succeeding Justice Party (AP). He entered the parliament as a deputy of Konya Province after the 1961 general elections. In the 29th government of Turkey, he was appointed the Minister of Health (20 February 1965 – 27 October 1965). In the 30th government of Turkey, he served as the Minister of Interior (27 October 1965 – 1 August 1969). On 18 December 1970, he took part in establishing the Democratic Party along with a number of the Justice Party politicians. In the 42nd government of Turkey, Sükan became the deputy prime minister (5 January 1978 – 20 September 1979). On 18 December 1978, he was elected as the chairman of the Democratic Party. Following the 1980 coup d'état, he left politics.