BREAKING: El-Rufai Declares APC Dead, Says Party Has Abandoned Its Founding Principles

El-Rufai Declares APC Dead, Says Party Has Abandoned Its Founding Principles

 

Malam Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has delivered a scathing criticism of the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring the party “dead” and accusing its leadership of abandoning the ideals upon which it was founded.

 

 

Speaking in an exclusive interview with BBC Hausa, El-Rufai, who has recently distanced himself from the party, claimed that personal interests have now overtaken governance, leaving the APC unrecognizable from its original form.

 

Another powerful Northern Politician, Abacha’s Chief Security Officer, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha Joins El-Rufai In SDP

 

El-Rufai’s remarks centered around his disillusionment with the APC’s internal politics, particularly in the aftermath of his failure to secure a ministerial appointment in President Bola Tinubu’s administration. He emphasized that his exit from the party was not due to the denial of a ministerial position, but rather due to the party’s abandonment of its core values.

 

“I didn’t regret supporting Tinubu’s presidential ambition, but I feel disappointed,” El-Rufai said. He explained that had the party formally expelled him, it would have saved him the trouble of explaining his departure.

 

While addressing speculation that his resignation was linked to his unmet ministerial aspirations, El-Rufai was clear: “Did I seek to be minister? I know people who paid to get ministerial appointments.” His comments suggested a wider dissatisfaction with the party’s handling of political appointments, particularly under the current administration.

 

El-Rufai described the APC as a party now driven by individual greed rather than the collective good. “The APC has abandoned the ideals that led to its formation. It has abandoned the people. Everyone is now pursuing personal interests and wealth,” he asserted, adding that the current government had transformed into a “business enterprise” where everything, including appointments, comes at a price.

 

The former governor was particularly critical of the influence of a select group of individuals from Lagos in key appointments within the party. He accused them of monopolizing power and undermining fairness and justice, which had once been the party’s defining characteristics. “There is no justice. Those who worked for the party are not recognized, let alone rewarded,” El-Rufai lamented.

 

El-Rufai’s break with the APC did not come without significant reflection. Prior to his departure, he consulted with several key political figures, including former President Muhammadu Buhari, Tunde Bakare, Abdullahi Adamu, Adams Oshiomhole, and Bisi Akande, seeking their counsel on the matter.

 

In his most pointed statement, El-Rufai declared that the APC is “dead,” signaling the collapse of a party that once championed the aspirations of many Nigerians. His comments reflect the broader dissatisfaction among party members and political observers who feel that the APC has drifted far from its founding ideals.

 

As the fallout from his remarks continues, El-Rufai’s claims highlight a deepening rift within the APC, one that could have long-term consequences for the party’s future.