Nigeria’s ruling APC has criticised former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai, saying his political plans for 2027 won’t succeed.
The party claimed that Nigerian voters will reject what it calls his self-centered agenda.
The ruling party’s statement comes in response to El-Rufai’s recent criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration during a political gathering in Sokoto, where he labeled the government as incompetent and clannish.
APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka dismissed El-Rufai’s remarks as the “rantings of a bitter politician” still reeling from his failed ministerial nomination last year.
“Having crashed from political relevance to a mere heckler, Mallam El-Rufai now specializes in infantile outbursts rather than constructive opposition,” Morka stated. “His latest tantrum in Sokoto only confirms he has nothing meaningful to contribute to Nigeria’s progress.”
The APC accused El-Rufai and his allies in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) of promoting division by attempting to disrupt the established principle of rotational presidency between Nigeria’s north and south.
“The same selfishness that made Atiku Abubakar destroy PDP is what El-Rufai wants to replicate nationally through ADC,” the statement read. “Nigerians are wiser and will reject this dangerous gambit in 2027.”
Highlighting the Tinubu administration’s achievements including infrastructure development, economic reforms and improved security, the APC challenged El-Rufai to point to similar accomplishments during his tenure as Kaduna governor.
“While President Tinubu builds roads, airports and a stronger economy, El-Rufai’s legacy is one of N284 billion debt, sectarian divisions and weaponized demolitions,” Morka said. “He lacks the moral standing to criticize this government.”
The party particularly criticized El-Rufai’s recent policy criticisms, noting that all major 2023 presidential candidates including Atiku and Peter Obi had campaigned on similar reform agendas that Tinubu has implemented.
“They promised subsidy removal and forex reforms, but now play politics with these same policies,” the statement noted. “This exposes their hypocrisy and desperation.”
With the next general elections three years away, the APC’s strong response signals an early start to what promises to be a fiercely contested political battle. The party expressed confidence that Nigerians would reward Tinubu’s “transformational leadership” with reelection.
“Unlike El-Rufai and his cohorts, President Tinubu has kept faith with Nigerians,” Morka concluded. “The 2027 results will prove that what Nigerians want is progress, not the toxic politics of yesterday’s men.”
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