By Abigail Philip David
The Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have rebuked former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai for his scathing critique of the ruling party’s leadership and his call for opposition parties to unite ahead of the 2027 elections.
El-Rufai, speaking at a national conference in Abuja on Monday, described Nigeria’s governance and opposition as a “national emergency.” He criticized the APC for lacking internal democracy and failing to meet its founding objectives, saying, “I no longer recognize the APC. No party organ has met in two years—no caucus, no NEC, nothing. It’s not even a one-man show; it’s a zero-man show.”
The former governor accused the APC of abandoning its original goals of fighting corruption, rebuilding the economy, and improving security. He also urged opposition parties to form a broad coalition to challenge the ruling party and defend democracy.
El-Rufai alleged that crises within the opposition were being fueled by “internal mercenaries” hired to destabilize parties like the PDP and Labour Party. He cited Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, who reportedly expressed concern over his party’s disarray.
“This is a national emergency, and we must act before history repeats itself,” El-Rufai warned, adding that Nigeria cannot afford a return to military-style governance under civilian rule.
Presidency and APC Respond
The Presidency accused El-Rufai of betrayal, suggesting his criticism stemmed from his exclusion from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.
Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communications, tweeted, “If you were part of the government and cabinet, would you have expressed the same position? This is a government you helped form, and now you want to unseat it. Haba, Mallam!”
APC National Publicity Director Bala Ibrahim also criticized El-Rufai for airing his grievances publicly, urging him to address party leadership directly.
“El-Rufai, as a respected politician and former governor, is entitled to his opinion. But his claims do not reflect the reality of the APC,” Ibrahim said. He added that the APC under its new chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, is a “listening party” and encouraged El-Rufai to formally raise his concerns.
Opposition Parties Support El-Rufai
Opposition parties, however, backed El-Rufai’s remarks, accusing the APC of abandoning its campaign promises. They agreed with his call for a united opposition to counter the ruling party in 2027.
The debate underscores growing tensions within the APC and highlights calls for reform within Nigeria’s political landscape as the country prepares for future elections.
