El-Rufai is just making noise. He is seeking every means to bring down the APC, the same platform through which he became a two-term governor. But we know he will remain in denial -APC
On Monday, the All Progressives Congress (APC) made fun of Nasir El-Rufai, a former governor of Kaduna State, for leading a projected coalition against President Bola Tinubu in advance of the 2027 election.
The main reason El-Rufai decided to leave the APC and join the SDP last week was because he felt his principles were becoming increasingly misaligned.
Upon leaving the APC, in an interview with BBC Hausa, the former governor announced his new party affiliation and to invite Atiku, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, Rotimi Amaechi, who had previously served as governor of Rivers, Rauf Aregbesola, who had previously served as minister, and all other opposition figures to join him.
Atiku has long emphasized the need of opposition groups working together, and he has made it clear that he is doing everything in his power to facilitate this coalition’s formation in order to depose the current government.
However, in response to the increasing plot against Tinubu, Felix Morka, the APC National Publicity Secretary, characterised El-Rufai’s invitation to the SDP alliance as an offer to partake in a beverage polluted by vindictiveness and a boastful illusion.
On Monday, the APC released a statement claiming El-Rufai suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder due to his failure to get a ministerial seat in Tinubu’s government.
“His claim that he exited because the party had deviated from its founding values or progressive ideology is a smokescreen to weaponise personal grievance garbed as principled dissent. El-Rufai appears traumatized by his failure to land a ministerial position.
“Nursing a bruised ego, he now lashes out at the platform on which he rode to political prominence. Assuming that matters of political conviction had anything to do with his exit, exactly how is the Social Democratic Party, El-Rufai’s new political abode, an ideological safe haven?
“Nigerians are far more savvy than El-Rufai thinks, and they know that he is driven by raw self-interest rather than a genuine concern for the country.
“We continue to welcome millions of new members across the country, who are joining to identify with the Party’s lofty values and support President Tinubu’s bold and transformative policies now birthing sustainable growth and prosperity for our country.”
Cornelius Ojelabi, chairman of the APC in Lagos State, has said that President Tinubu is unstoppable and has rejected the political plots against him.
“Well, I don’t really see it as a gang-up against Tinubu. They are free to join a coalition or the political party of their choice. We are doing our own. But the truth is that Tinubu is unstoppable.
“His achievement is there for all to see. But you can’t do without having a few disgruntled elements.
“That is not a coalition they are talking about. It is a coalition that is based on their personal interests. By the time they put all their interests together, you will see that the coalition is dead on arrival.
“It is not one founded on principles. It shouldn’t be coming at a time Asiwaju is reshaping the economy of the country.”
The North-West Zonal Publicity Secretary of the APC, Musa Mailafiya, shared his concerns, saying that the SDP could not build a strong enough coalition to challenge the current administration.
He said, “Is that how to build a coalition? Did you listen to Sule Lamido’s speech? Let us be realistic. Did you see the possibility of a coalition with the rest of the SDP? They are building a coalition based on the nomination of the SDP.
“To me, El-Rufai is just making noise. He is seeking every means to bring down the APC, the same platform through which he became a two-term governor. But we know he will remain in denial. That was why he confessed that the APC left him. But time will tell if the so-called coalition will survive.
“I read somewhere that he is planning to bring in bigwigs like Abdulaziz Yari to join the SDP. These are people who are working day and night tirelessly for the unity of the APC. Their profiles are far bigger than El-Rufai. He is just desperate.”