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Politics
El-Rufai threatens to dump APC over lack of internal democracy, rules out PDP move
By Muyiwa Adeyemi (Politics Editor), Leo Sobechi, Kehinde Olatunji (Lagos) and Adamu Abuh (Abuja)
25 February 2025 | 4:15 am

Nasir El-Rufai. PHOTO: TWITTER
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Former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai, yesterday criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC) for abandoning its founding values and internal democracy, warning he may leave the party if reforms are not made.

The former minister, however, categorically ruled out joining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said, “I don’t know where I will end up if the APC doesn’t come back to where we started. But one thing I can tell you for sure is that PDP is not a party that I will go to, ever. I have thought about that. I’ve decided that long ago, and nothing has changed. In fact, if anything PDP has gotten worse, rule out PDP.”

El-Rufai, joining other chieftains in criticising the APC for failing to convene National Executive Council (NEC), National Caucus, and Board of Trustees (BOT) meetings throughout last year, also disclosed that he would not attend the party’s stakeholders’ meeting scheduled for today (Tuesday) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He explained that the meeting lacked the required 14 to 21 days’ notice.

Speaking in an interview with Arise Television, El-Rufai said, “A political party functions through internal democracy. In two years, the party has not met. No one understands what is going on. There’s no conversation about aligning government policies with the party’s progressive values. The party has forgotten the principles agreed upon by its founding fathers.”

When asked if he was considering leaving the APC, he responded, “For now, I am not leaving the APC, but the party has left me. We founded the party based on certain values, and I feel stranded. To be precise, the party has abandoned those values. I am not ready to retire from politics. Sooner or later, I may have to find another platform to pursue the progressive ideals I believe in if they are no longer present in the APC. I hope the APC will address these issues and perhaps some of us may reconsider, but at the moment, many of us can no longer recognise the party we helped create.”

He further revealed that President Bola Tinubu persuaded him for two months to serve in his government. El-Rufai denied allegations that his nomination was dropped due to a security report against him, asserting instead that it was Tinubu who changed his mind.

“I remain in politics. I am only 65 years old and not ready to retire. However, if the APC does not restore its democratic values, I will leave the party,” he said.

El-Rufai also criticised APC members for being uneasy whenever he interacted with friends from other political parties but dismissed any possibility of joining the PDP.

https://guardian.ng/politics/el-rufai-threatens-to-dump-apc-over-lack-of-internal-democracy-rules-out-pdp-move/