The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday attacked the immediate-past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, as indications emerged that the former Federal Capital Territory minister was rallying northern leaders and bigwigs against President Bola Tinubu’s re-election ahead of the 2027 poll.
Ajibola Basiru, the APC National Secretary, accused El-Rufai of inciting ethnic tensions over his inability to secure a cabinet appointment.
The president’s once-cordial relationship with El-Rufai deteriorated after he failed to gain a ministry job.
Despite Tinubu’s nomination for a cabinet position, the former governor was rejected by the National Assembly due to security concerns.
In recent weeks, he has met with a number of northern political heavyweights and opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s 2023 presidential contender.
El-Rufai joined Atiku’s entourage during a condolence visit to the family of Chief Edwin Clark, the elder statesman and leader of Niger Delta, last Friday to demonstrate his newfound friendship with the former vice president whom he accused of corruption in his book, “The Accidental Servant,”
During the visit, El-Rufai praised Atiku for driving economic changes under Olusegun Obasanjo’s presidency.
“Nobody gives Alhaji Atiku Abubakar the credit for economic policy-making under Obasanjo’s administration. Many of the things we did were under his leadership.
“Maybe because we don’t write about it, and people don’t read history, we tend to forget. We only remember negative things. Maybe, it’s part of human nature,” El-Rufai said.
Following the condolence visit, the ex-governor and Atiku attended the Juma’at prayer together.
On Saturday, El-Rufai met with the PDP’s Kaduna State Executive Committee. The former governor was accompanied by Bashir Saidu, his former Chief of Staff.
The closed-door conference in Kaduna has fueled conjecture about potential political realignments and bipartisan cooperation ahead of the 2027 elections.
On Sunday, the ex-governor met with former APC National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu.
El-Rufai paid a visit to Adamu at his residence in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
This was made public by @UI_Wakili, an X user and avid El-Rufai supporter.
He said, “Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, accompanied by Mallam Bashir Saidu and Dujima Adamawa, paid a visit to former APC Chairman Abdullahi Adamu today at his residence in Keffi.”
Adamu is said to have had a falling out with Tinubu after he resigned as APC national chairman in July 2023.
El-Rufai recently started public attacks on the APC, accusing it of lacking internal democracy, adding that the party’s organs had not met in the last two years.
Two weeks ago, the APC chairman shared the opinion of a social commentator, Uche Diala, who said that Tinubu’s relationship with the North had deteriorated less than two years into his administration, warning that he could face the ‘Goodluck Jonathan treatment’ in the 2027 elections.
El-Rufai posted the remark on his verified X handle. The title was ‘2027: South West, Tinubu’s fans playing with fire—Part 1.’
It read partly, “Less than two years into the tenure, we are witnesses to how the relationship between the North and President Bola Tinubu or rather his administration is quickly deteriorating, driven by the words and conduct of, unfortunately, many from the president’s geopolitical zone and tribe. Truth be told.
“I have read and heard the arrogant posturing and braggadocio by some people whom I refer to as political rabble-rousers, but I get more worried each day as it keeps looking more and more like a movie we had seen before.
“May I remind some persons that, more than the performance or lack thereof of the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan administration, it was his attitude, and that of people around him, towards the North that ultimately brought him down and, by extension, the PDP that had boasted that it would rule Nigeria for 60 years.”
Speaking about El-Rufai’s subterranean political actions, APC National Secretary Basiru stated that the party no longer pays attention to his activities after discovering he was “an overrated ethnic champion” who is always ready to set northern politicians against their southern counterparts.
The party scribe criticized El-Rufai for his continued role as the North’s mouthpiece, as well as his recent association with top opposition members.
He said, “I have told you before and am still telling you again that we are concerned about our affairs in the APC. For parties in Nigeria, it is free exit and free entry. So anybody is free to exit if he wants to exit. But we will not dignify such moves with any comment for now.
“We understand that sectional politics is what makes some people tick. Unfortunately, he (El-Rufai) is not thinking about the development of the country but is stoking up the ethnic nationality agenda. This South versus North posture shows that all along, he has been overrated as a person.”
Speaking on El-Rufai’s grievance, Basiru noted, “The only thing we want to say is that governance is a serious matter, and nobody has the birthright to be an appointee of government. There are more than 180 million Nigerians and quite a number of them are qualified.
“So, if you don’t have an opportunity to serve in a government, it does not mean that you should be going around and trying to become an emergency activist. As I said before, politics is a free exit and free entry. The APC is solid, and we are forging ahead.”
