“El-Rufai Accuses Key APC Figures of Conspiring Against Him”
Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has escalated his criticisms of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing prominent party figures of conspiring against him. In an exclusive interview on Arise News Channel’s PrimeTime show, El-Rufai opened up about his exclusion from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, his uncertain political future, and growing tensions within the APC.
El-Rufai directly targeted Nuhu Ribadu and Uba Sani, accusing them of working together to discredit him and eliminate northern figures who could pose a threat to their ambitions. He claimed that Ribadu and Sani were intentionally undermining his reputation to clear the path for Ribadu’s own presidential bid in 2031. “They are trying to destroy my reputation and eliminate any northern contenders who could challenge their plans,” El-Rufai stated. “But they’ve failed so far, and now I will start fighting back.”
In discussing his exclusion from President Tinubu’s cabinet, El-Rufai was blunt. He made it clear that it wasn’t the National Assembly but rather President Tinubu who ultimately decided against him, despite prior assurances of a ministerial nomination. He dismissed the official claims of security concerns as baseless, challenging the legitimacy of those reasons.
El-Rufai also expressed disappointment over the apparent inactivity of the APC leadership since Tinubu’s inauguration. According to him, the party’s internal structures had been dormant, failing to function as they should.
Speculation has swirled about El-Rufai potentially defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but he firmly rejected the idea. “The PDP is not a party I’ll ever join,” he affirmed, clarifying that his friendly meetings with politicians from other parties were not an indication of shifting loyalties. He warned, however, that the APC must address its internal struggles, or he might explore other political avenues—though the PDP is not one of them.
Defending his record, El-Rufai categorically denied any allegations of corruption. “I’ve never taken a dime that isn’t mine,” he proclaimed, pushing back against critics attempting to tarnish his image with baseless claims.
Concluding his remarks, El-Rufai made it clear that his continued affiliation with the APC would depend on the party’s ability to return to its original principles of democracy and progressivism. If the party fails to reform itself, his place within the APC remains uncertain.
