“You Are Suffering the Consequences of What You Did to Amaechi” – Ndume Tells El-Rufai

Senator Ali Ndume has said that former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, is now experiencing the consequences of his political choices, particularly his defection from the Rotimi Amaechi camp to support Bola Tinubu ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primaries.

Ndume, who served as the Director-General of Amaechi’s campaign, made the remarks during an interview on Arise News. He expressed a mix of disappointment and vindication over El-Rufai’s current rift with President Tinubu, suggesting it may be rooted in past decisions.

Reflecting on the events leading up to the APC primaries, Ndume recalled that El-Rufai initially pledged support for Amaechi during the latter’s visit to Kaduna. However, after Tinubu’s visit, El-Rufai switched allegiances and became a vocal supporter of the now-president. Ndume noted that El-Rufai’s defection had a major impact on the campaign, as he not only shifted sides but also actively mobilised support for Tinubu.

Following Tinubu’s election victory, El-Rufai was nominated for a ministerial position, but his nomination was rejected. Since then, he has distanced himself from the APC and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), emerging as a leading figure in the growing anti-Tinubu bloc.

Ndume said he no longer has a close relationship with El-Rufai and hinted at a sense of poetic justice in the situation. “Sometimes, I say, ‘okay, you did that to us, and now it’s payback’,” he remarked. Despite his personal feelings, Ndume emphasized that the fallout between Tinubu and El-Rufai is no longer his concern, adding that whatever issues exist between them remain a matter for the two to resolve.