Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has launched a scathing critique of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the party of deviating from its founding principles and fostering poor leadership.
Speaking at a national conference in Abuja on strengthening Nigeria’s democracy, El-Rufai described the current state of both governance and opposition as a national emergency.
Sharing his remarks on X (formerly Twitter), El-Rufai expressed deep concern over the lack of internal democracy within the APC, alleging that key party organs have been inactive for over two years.
“I no longer recognise the APC,” he declared, adding that the party has failed to convene any significant meetings, such as caucus or NEC sessions.
“You don’t even know if it is a one-man show; it’s a zero-man show,” he lamented.
El-Rufai also sharply criticised the quality of leadership emerging from Nigerian political parties, placing the blame on unqualified delegates.
“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,” he said, emphasizing the need for higher standards when selecting candidates and delegates.
He further argued that the APC had abandoned its founding objectives, including tackling corruption, rebuilding the economy, and improving national security.
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El-Rufai also pointed to a recent poll suggesting that 75 percent of registered voters might abstain from the 2027 elections, warning that such apathy could lead to a political crisis.
In response, Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Public Communications and Media, questioned El-Rufai’s criticism, asking whether he would have held the same position had he remained in government.
“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,” Bwala remarked, pointing out that El-Rufai had once been part of the government he now criticized.
The tension between El-Rufai and the current leadership of the APC underscores growing dissatisfaction with the party’s direction and its leadership’s failure to meet the expectations of its founding vision.
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