..says party lacks ideals, led by illiterates
The problems that led to the creation of the APC remain unresolved. I no longer believe the APC is interested in addressing them.”
By Saidu Idris, Abuja
365Daily – Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has clarified his criticisms of the All Progressives Congress (APC), stating that they are intended to provoke reforms within the party rather than signal his departure.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a two-day national conference on strengthening democracy in Nigeria, held in Abuja on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, El-Rufai confirmed his membership and commitment to the ruling party.
“I am not leaving the APC. I don’t have such plans,” he said when asked about his loyalty to the party he helped establish.
When questioned about his harsh remarks targeting APC leadership, El-Rufai replied: “No, no, no, I only want them to change.”
During the conference, where he was a discussant, the former governor described the APC as a party that has strayed from its founding principles. He lamented the erosion of internal democracy, the absence of functional party structures, and the poor quality of leadership, which he linked to unqualified delegates.
“I no longer recognise the APC. 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,” he said.
He criticised the reliance on unqualified and unprepared individuals in leadership, stating: “You cannot afford to have illiterates, semi-illiterates, and cunning people as your leaders. This is why we end up with the poor leadership we have today.”
El-Rufai urged political parties to raise the bar for candidates and delegates, arguing that the constitutional minimum requirement of a secondary school certificate is insufficient for party nominations. He reflected on the APC’s founding goals of combating corruption, rebuilding the economy, and improving security, claiming that these objectives have been abandoned.
“The problems that led to the creation of the APC remain unresolved. I no longer believe the APC is interested in addressing them. The distance between me and the party is widening,” he added.
The former FCT minister also addressed the state of opposition parties in Nigeria, accusing them of facing internal sabotage.
“There are internal mercenaries in the PDP, hired and motivated to destroy the party. The Labour Party is also facing similar issues. Peter Obi himself told me, ‘I don’t know what’s happening in the party I contested with.’ It seems there’s a deliberate effort to destroy opposition parties,” he alleged.
He warned of a potential crisis, citing a poll that suggests 75% of registered voters might abstain from the 2027 elections.
“This is dangerous. For those of us who lived half our lives under military rule, we know what it is. We also don’t want civilians behaving like the military in their babanriga and suits.”
The former governor called on opposition parties to set aside their differences and form a united coalition to challenge the ruling party and safeguard democracy.
“This is a national emergency, and we must act before history repeats itself,” El-Rufai said.