• Denies security allegations, blames Tinubu for ministerial list revision
• APC stakeholders dismiss El-Rufai’s campaign as dubious, self-serving
• North-Central APC Forum hails Tinubu’s strides, woos Saraki, Mark, others
Former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai, yesterday criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC) for abandoning its founding values and internal democracy, warning he may leave the party if reforms are not made.
The former minister, however, categorically ruled out joining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He said, “I don’t know where I will end up if the APC doesn’t come back to where we started. But one thing I can tell you for sure is that PDP is not a party that I will go to, ever. I have thought about that. I’ve decided that long ago, and nothing has changed. In fact, if anything PDP has gotten worse, rule out PDP.”
El-Rufai, joining other chieftains in criticising the APC for failing to convene National Executive Council (NEC), National Caucus, and Board of Trustees (BOT) meetings throughout last year, also disclosed that he would not attend the party’s stakeholders’ meeting scheduled for today (Tuesday) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He explained that the meeting lacked the required 14 to 21 days’ notice.
Speaking in an interview with Arise Television, El-Rufai said, “A political party functions through internal democracy. In two years, the party has not met. No one understands what is going on. There’s no conversation about aligning government policies with the party’s progressive values. The party has forgotten the principles agreed upon by its founding fathers.”
When asked if he was considering leaving the APC, he responded, “For now, I am not leaving the APC, but the party has left me. We founded the party based on certain values, and I feel stranded. To be precise, the party has abandoned those values. I am not ready to retire from politics. Sooner or later, I may have to find another platform to pursue the progressive ideals I believe in if they are no longer present in the APC. I hope the APC will address these issues and perhaps some of us may reconsider, but at the moment, many of us can no longer recognise the party we helped create.”
He further revealed that President Bola Tinubu persuaded him for two months to serve in his government. El-Rufai denied allegations that his nomination was dropped due to a security report against him, asserting instead that it was Tinubu who changed his mind.
“I remain in politics. I am only 65 years old and not ready to retire. However, if the APC does not restore its democratic values, I will leave the party,” he said.
El-Rufai also criticised APC members for being uneasy whenever he interacted with friends from other political parties but dismissed any possibility of joining the PDP.
“Don’t believe the rumour that the National Assembly rejected me; it was the president who revised the list. I believe he changed his mind. I served as a governor for eight years and was a minister 20 years ago. What security issue could there possibly be? It’s a position I didn’t even want in the first place. Has anyone released a security report to back this claim?”
He added that President Tinubu initially wanted him to tackle Nigeria’s energy challenges but later altered his decision.
Commenting on government reforms, El-Rufai said, “I support most of the government’s policies because they are good, but the quality of the people implementing them is a problem. For instance, discouraging local farmers while importing food is counterproductive.”
El-Rufai also criticised President Tinubu’s ministerial appointments, describing them as unbalanced. However, he cautioned against blaming the South-West for the actions of “one man”, just as others blamed the North for skewed appointments during military regimes.
In the interview, El-Rufai praised the Yoruba people, stating, “The Yoruba are very good people and deserve the respect of all Nigerians. In fact, they believe in the concept of Omoluabi and not in promoting ‘Area Boys’.”
He revealed that he mobilised Northern support for Tinubu during the election despite the president’s perceived liabilities. He also stated that his political relevance in 2027 would be a decisive factor.
El-Rufai accused the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, of orchestrating a political witch-hunt against him. He alleged that Ribadu’s actions were motivated by a desire to clear the path for his own presidential ambition in 2031.
“Ribadu wants to be president in 2031. That’s why he wants to eliminate every northerner he thinks might stand in his way,” El-Rufai claimed during the interview.
The former governor further accused Ribadu of colluding with his successor in Kaduna State, Governor Uba Sani, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to implicate him in the alleged mismanagement of over N423 billion during his eight-year tenure.
Describing the ongoing investigation as a “charade” and a personal attack, El-Rufai dismissed the probe as politically motivated. He argued that the allegations were baseless and targeted not only at him but also members of his former cabinet.
El-Rufai, who acknowledged his past friendships with both Ribadu and Uba Sani, stated that the two had betrayed him. “They were my friends for many years, but they are no longer my friends after backstabbing me,” he remarked.
MEANWHILE, some stakeholders within the ruling APC have dismissed mobilisation against Tinubu’s second term as self-serving.
Former APC national secretary, Waziri Bulama, described the notion of a united northern bloc as outdated, adding that El-Rufai’s campaign appears self-serving.
Bulama told The Guardian: “The idea of mobilising along religious, regional, or identity lines no longer holds weight in Nigerian politics. The APC remains united and without significant internal crises. If the party sustains its current cohesion, President Tinubu stands a strong chance of securing the party’s ticket and winning the 2027 election.”
He added that opposition groups are politically weak and lack the unity required to mount a credible challenge to Tinubu’s second-term bid.
“The opposition faces serious obstacles, including uniting around a common candidate, which is unlikely given their current fragmentation,” Bulama explained. “Even attempts to rally around a southern candidate will struggle, as the political system has moved past such strategic arrangements.”
He noted that Tinubu’s representation of the South for eight years gives him a significant advantage. Conversely, a northern opposition candidate would divide northern votes, while a weaker southern contender might fail to secure widespread support.
Bulama argued that the APC is well-positioned for 2027, saying: “The APC’s national spread, strong leadership, and unity make it a formidable force. The opposition must overcome many challenges to defeat Tinubu, which seems highly unlikely.”
He dismissed El-Rufai’s efforts as a ploy for self-promotion, stating: “What El-Rufai and his allies are doing is frivolous and dubious. They lack the trust of Nigerians and even the northerners they claim to represent.”
Bulama emphasised that Tinubu’s candidature is likely to garner widespread support within the APC and across the country, making his second-term bid difficult to challenge.
IN a related development, the North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has called on elders and leaders of the region in opposition parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to join the ruling APC, citing the administration of President Bola Tinubu as the only guarantee of the zone’s interests.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Forum, led by its chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, appealed to prominent political figures in the region, including former Senate Presidents David Mark and Bukola Saraki, as well as ex-governors Jonah Jang (Plateau), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Gabriel Suswam and Samuel Ortom (Benue), and former PDP National Chairman, Professor Iyorchia Ayu, to align with the APC.
According to the Forum, the North-Central region, which it claimed faced neglect during PDP administrations, is now reaping significant benefits under the APC-led government. It highlighted the Federal Government’s focus on previously abandoned road projects and the establishment of the North-Central Development Commission (NCDC) as evidence of the administration’s commitment to the region.
“We urge these leaders to prioritise the development of the region over party loyalty and join the APC, the party that truly cares for the North-Central,” the statement read. “Under President Tinubu’s leadership, the region is enjoying the dividends of democracy, prompting us to endorse him for a second term.”
The Forum listed key road projects receiving attention under the APC administration, including the Jos-Akwanga Road, Makurdi-Oturkpo-Otukpa Road, Minna-Bida Road, Lokoja-Abuja Road, and others. It contrasted this progress with what it described as years of neglect under PDP rule.
The statement further emphasised that the establishment of the NCDC was a landmark achievement demonstrating President Tinubu’s responsiveness to the needs of the North-Central. “This commission will ensure the region enjoys equal developmental opportunities as other geopolitical zones,” the Forum noted.
It urged the opposition leaders to set aside partisan differences and work with the APC in advancing the interests of the North-Central. “The transformation of the region’s fortunes under the current government underscores the need for all stakeholders to support the President’s vision for progress and development,” it added.