 has lashed out at former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, accusing him of orchestrating){kind=link}
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has lashed out at former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, accusing him of orchestrating a northern coalition to undermine President Bola Tinubu’s re-election prospects for 2027.
APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru labelled El-Rufai an “overrated ethnic champion,” claiming his actions stem from bitterness after the National Assembly rejected his ministerial nomination due to security concerns.
AFRIPOST reports that El-Rufai has been engaging northern leaders, including a notable condolence visit last Friday with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 PDP presidential candidate, to Edwin Clark’s family.
There, El-Rufai praised Atiku’s economic role under Obasanjo, saying, “Few acknowledge his leadership in shaping policies back then—history often overlooks the good.”
The pair prayed together afterwards, and El-Rufai later met Kaduna PDP officials privately, stirring speculation of a political shift.
Within 24 hours, he visited ex-APC Chairman Abdullahi Adamu in Keffi, a move spotlighted by X user @UI_Wakili
Bakatsine, a northern security analyst, flagged these developments on Twitter, amplifying their reach.
El-Rufai’s recent critique of APC’s “undemocratic” stagnation and Tinubu’s fraying northern ties has drawn ire.
Basiru countered, “He’s free to leave, but we won’t entertain his divisive games.”
The PDP, meanwhile, welcomes El-Rufai, with spokesperson Debo Ologunagba noting, “Our doors are open to those who value law and people-first governance.”