Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has sharply criticized the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the party of abandoning its founding principles and nurturing ineffective leadership.
Speaking at a national conference in Abuja focused on strengthening Nigeria’s democracy, El-Rufai described the current state of governance and opposition politics in the country as a “national emergency.”
He lamented the lack of internal democracy within the APC, stating, “I no longer recognize the APC. The party’s organs haven’t met in two years—no caucus, no NEC, nothing. It’s unclear whether it’s even a one-man show or a zero-man show.”
El-Rufai also criticized the quality of leadership emerging from Nigerian political parties, attributing the issue to the selection of unqualified delegates. “You can’t afford to have illiterates, semi-illiterates, and self-serving individuals as leaders. This is why we have the kind of poor leadership we face today,” he remarked.
He urged political parties to raise their standards for both candidates and delegates, arguing that the minimum constitutional requirement of a secondary school certificate is inadequate for party nominations.
Reflecting on the APC’s founding, El-Rufai noted that the party was initially created to tackle corruption, rebuild the economy, and improve security. However, he claimed that these goals have been sidelined. “The issues that led to the formation of the APC are still unresolved, but I no longer believe the party is committed to addressing them. The gap between me and the APC is growing,” he said.
El-Rufai also called on opposition parties to unite in a broad coalition to challenge the ruling party and protect Nigeria’s democracy.
“There are mercenaries within the PDP, hired to destabilize the party. The Labour Party is also facing similar challenges. Even Peter Obi told me, ‘I don’t know what’s happening in the party I contested with.’ It appears there’s a deliberate attempt to destroy opposition parties,” he claimed.
Citing a poll that suggests 75% of registered voters may abstain from the 2027 elections, El-Rufai warned of an impending crisis. “This is dangerous. Those of us who lived through military rule know what’s at stake. We don’t want a return to military control, but we also don’t want civilians acting like the military in their babbar riga and suits,” he said.
In closing, El-Rufai appealed to opposition parties to set aside their differences and form a united front to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy, calling the situation a “national emergency” that demands urgent action to prevent a repeat of past mistakes.
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