Nasir El-Rufai, former Governor of Kaduna State, has dismissed speculation about his potential defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC). El-Rufai’s denial comes after his criticism of the party’s leadership and internal dynamics at a national conference on strengthening democracy in Nigeria. He described the state of governance and opposition in the country as a “national emergency”.
El-Rufai lamented the lack of internal democracy within the APC, stating that no party organ has met in two years. He emphasized the need for higher standards in candidate and delegate selection, citing the constitution’s minimum requirement of a secondary school certificate as insufficient.
The former governor reflected on the APC’s founding principles, which aimed to combat corruption, rebuild the economy, and enhance security. El-Rufai called on opposition parties to unite and form a broad coalition to challenge the ruling party and safeguard democracy.
When questioned about his harsh criticism of the APC, El-Rufai replied, “It is because I want them to change.” He acknowledged the hardships faced by Nigerians under the APC’s leadership, admitting, “Honestly, I don’t know. I am also figuring out what to do myself.”
