APC Rubbishes El-Rufai, Atiku’s Romance Ahead of 2027: “A Man Who Cannot Be Trusted Across Regions”
- The former governor of Kaduna state Nasir El-Rufai's recent movement with opposition party chieftains including Atiku's allies, has stirred a fresh controversy in the polity
- Reacting, the APC has dismissed concerns and explained how El-Rufai cannot be trusted after the 2023 elections
- APC chieftains further spoke on what would be the party's reaction if El-Rufai eventually defected to any opposition party
Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed concerns over the recent political engagement between Nasir El-Rufai, the ex-Kaduna state governor, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar's camp, and the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Source: Facebook
Legit.ng recalled that ahead of the 2027 general elections, Segun Showunmi, convener of the “National Opposition Movement”, revealed that some top politicians met.
According to Showunmi, the meeting was at the residence of Shehu Gabam, the national chairman of the SDP.
El-Rufai's meeting with Al-Mustapha, others
Hamza Al-Mustapha, a retired Nigerian Army major and ex-presidential aspirant who served as chief security officer to former head of state General Sani Abacha, was at the meeting. Former governor El-Rufai was also present.
However, in an interview on Television Continental’s Politics Tonight on Sunday, January 12, Gabam, denied a political alliance with Atiku and Nasir El-Rufai ahead of the 2027 elections.
He maintained that SDP's priority was to strengthen its structure and offer credible alternatives ahead of the next election.
APC's reaction to El-Rufai's meeting with opposition
Reacting to the development, the national vice chairman of the APC (southeast), Dr Ijeoma Arodiogbu, said the ruling party was not worried over the moves by the opposition figures.
As reported by The Punch, he said:
“After our election (in 2023), he displayed himself as a man who cannot be trusted across the regions. The way he disparaged Christians in Nigeria, a secular society, has made him a leper.
“We are not worried about the unholy alliance because it will amount to nothing. It is just a gathering of disgruntled people trying to lick their wounds. Tinubu remains the president and there is nobody that can stop him in 2027.”
APC sheds light on El-Rufai's possible defection
Meanwhile, the deputy national organising secretary of the APC, Nze Chidi Duru, said that the party cannot currently do anything about the immediate past governor of Kaduna until he takes a position on his political future.
According to him, El-Rufai has a constitutional right to mingle and associate with anybody he likes.
He said:
“We are in a democracy and a republic. But when it (defection) does happen, then the government and particularly the party will respond to it adequately and comprehensively. The party will continue to focus on its manifesto and then, of course, deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of this country.”
Read more about El-Rufai, 2027 here:
- Ministerial rejection: Governor Sule speaks on El-Rufai dumping APC, “It’s too early”
- 2027: Ex-Kano gov Shekarau leading northern elite, 2 top former heads of state named as supporters
2027: Top PDP govs may defect to APC
In another development, Legit.ng earlier reported that a source revealed some governors who are members of the PDP may defect to the ruling APC.
It was gathered that the chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and Imo state governor, Hope Uzodimma, was allegedly involved in the wooing of the governors as part of moves to enlarge the coast of his party.
Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.
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Source: Legit.ng
