The immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has strongly criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the party of deviating from its founding principles and enabling poor leadership.
Speaking at a national conference in Abuja on strengthening democracy in Nigeria, El-Rufai described the state of governance and opposition in the country as a “national emergency.”
In a post shared on his X handle on Tuesday, the former governor expressed concerns over the lack of internal democracy and active party structures within the APC.
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“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.
El-Rufai condemned the quality of leadership in the country, attributing the issue to unqualified party 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 stated.
He also called for higher standards for political candidates and delegates, suggesting that the constitution’s minimum requirement of a secondary school certificate for nominations is insufficient.
El-Rufai lamented the APC’s failure to uphold its original objectives of fighting corruption, rebuilding the economy, and improving security. He cited a poll indicating that 75% of registered voters might abstain from the 2027 elections, warning of an impending crisis if the trend persists.
Reacting to El-Rufai’s remarks, Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Public Communications and Media, questioned the former governor’s position.
“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,” Bwala wrote.
El-Rufai’s comments have sparked mixed reactions, reigniting debates about the state of governance and the future of democracy in Nigeria.