APC Slams El-Rufai as Former Kaduna Governor Hints at Leaving Party

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly criticized former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai after he accused President Bola Tinubu of lacking the right people to implement his administration’s policies. El-Rufai also suggested that some of the president’s reforms were misguided, sparking backlash from party leaders.

Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, APC’s National Vice Chairman for the South East, dismissed El-Rufai’s comments as “pathetic” during an interview on Arise TV. He claimed that the former governor’s remarks stemmed from personal grievances and unfulfilled expectations within the party. According to Arodiogbu, El-Rufai’s frustration likely came from his failure to secure a position in the current administration. “El-Rufai is a grudging man. His personal desires and selfish needs were not fulfilled, which is likely the cause of his bitterness. This could explain why he says the party left him—he didn’t leave the party,” Arodiogbu said.

El-Rufai had previously hinted at distancing himself from the APC, stating that the party had abandoned its core values. He explained, “I didn’t say I’m leaving the APC; I said the APC has left me. We founded this party on certain values, but now I’m stranded. The APC is still there, but I’m here.” He suggested he might seek another political platform if the APC fails to realign with its original principles but ruled out joining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“It should be clear that the fact that I’m in the APC doesn’t mean that I cannot visit a friend of mine who is in the PDP or SDP. So anytime I visit anyone that is not in APC, they say, ‘Oh, he’s thinking of leaving the party,’” El-Rufai stated. He also dismissed rumors that he had obtained a PDP membership card, reiterating, “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, the PDP has gotten worse.”

The former governor also announced that he would not be attending the National Caucus and National Executive Committee meetings of the APC, which were scheduled to begin on Tuesday. He expressed disappointment over Tinubu’s decision not to appoint him to a government position despite previous indications. Additionally, he accused National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu of working against him.

As of the time of this report, the Presidency had not officially responded to El-Rufai’s accusations beyond the APC’s reaction.