El-Rufai tackles APC, says it’s encouraging poor leadership
By Jeffrey Agbo
Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing it of deviating from its founding principles and enabling poor leadership within Nigeria’s political system.
Speaking at a national conference on strengthening democracy in Abuja, El-Rufai described the state of governance and opposition in the country as a “national emergency.”
The ex-governor shared a report of his speech on his X handle on Tuesday.
He lamented the alleged lack of internal democracy within the APC and the deteriorating quality of leadership in Nigerian politics.
“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,” El-Rufai stated.
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He criticised the low standards for political candidates and delegates, blaming this for the emergence of unqualified leadership. “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 added.
El-Rufai also accused the APC of abandoning its core objectives, including tackling corruption, rebuilding the economy and improving national security. “The problems that led to the creation of the APC remain unresolved, but I no longer believe the APC is interested in addressing them. The distance between me and the party is widening,” he declared.
Expanding his criticism to opposition parties, the former governor alleged that internal sabotage has weakened their effectiveness.
El-Rufai cited a poll showing that 75% of registered voters might abstain from the 2027 elections, warning of the dangerous implications. “This is dangerous. For those of us who lived half our lives under military rule, we know what it is. We don’t want a military rule, but we also don’t want civilians behaving like the military in their babbar riga and suits,” he said.
Describing the situation as a “national emergency,” El-Rufai urged immediate action to prevent a collapse of Nigeria’s democracy. “We must act before history repeats itself,” he concluded.
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