Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has strongly criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the party of abandoning its original principles and fostering a culture of poor leadership. El-Rufai made the remarks during a national conference in Abuja, where he discussed ways to strengthen democracy in Nigeria.
El-Rufai, who served as the governor of Kaduna State until recently, expressed deep concerns about the state of governance and political opposition in Nigeria. He described the country’s political situation as a “national emergency,” citing a lack of progress in both governance and opposition activities.
The former governor also took aim at the APC, particularly its internal workings, noting that the party had failed to live up to the expectations set by its founding members.
On his social media platform, X, El-Rufai posted his thoughts, stating that he no longer recognizes the APC. He pointed out that the party’s internal organs, such as its caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC), have not convened in two years. “No party organ has met in two years—no caucus, no NEC, nothing. You don’t even know if it is a one-man show; it’s a zero-man show,” El-Rufai remarked.
Furthermore, the former governor criticized the quality of leadership emerging from political parties, which he believes is being hindered by unqualified delegates. He argued that having individuals who are “illiterates, semi-illiterates, and cunning people” in leadership roles is one of the main reasons behind Nigeria’s current poor governance.
He called on political parties to set higher standards for their candidates and delegates, stressing that the minimum constitutional requirement of a secondary school certificate is insufficient for nominations.
El-Rufai lamented that the APC had moved away from its founding goals, which included fighting corruption, rebuilding the economy, and improving security. These ideals, he said, had been largely forgotten or abandoned, contributing to the current state of the nation.
In addition, the former governor referred to a recent poll which suggested that up to 75 percent of registered voters might avoid voting in the 2027 elections. He warned that this low voter turnout could lead to a crisis if not addressed urgently.
In response to El-Rufai’s criticism, Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Public Communications and Media, questioned whether El-Rufai would have taken the same position if he were still in the government or the cabinet.
Bwala asked, “My Senior brother, if you were to be in the government and cabinet, would you have held and expressed the same position? History is replete with examples. It is a government you participated in its formation, that you now want to unseat. Haba Mallam,” he said, challenging El-Rufai’s current stance.
