Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has declared that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is “dead,” accusing the party of abandoning its founding principles and turning governance into a business where everything has a price tag.
In a revealing interview with BBC Hausa, El-Rufai disclosed that he left the APC for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) only after seeking the approval of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The APC has lost its way. It’s no longer about service; it’s about personal gain. Positions are being sold, and justice has been thrown aside,” he lamented.
He alleged that those who genuinely worked for the party were sidelined in favor of “Lagos boys” and others with financial influence.
El-Rufai further revealed that he did not join APC because of Buhari but was introduced to the party by Pastor Tunde Bakare. “Out of respect, I informed both of them before making my move,” he said.
On rumors that he left the party out of frustration over not getting a ministerial position, he dismissed the claims, stating: “I never asked for it. In fact, I know people who paid to become ministers.”
El-Rufai added that President Bola Tinubu personally pleaded with him to take up the power ministry, but he had reservations. “He wanted me to help fix Nigeria’s electricity problem, and I considered it. But in the end, things changed.”
The former governor accused the APC of sidelining him and failing to implement the plans that were originally envisioned when they came into power.
“I didn’t leave the party; the party left me. They can hold onto it and eat it alone like food. I’ve moved on,” he concluded.
