El-Rufai Continues to be an APC Ally and a Significant Player
In a recent press conference in Kaduna, Bashir Jamoh, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, addressed the political landscape of Kaduna state.
Jamoh described Nasir El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State and a former APC member, as an inseparable part of Kaduna's political fabric and a "political institution". However, he stated that El-Rufai cannot contest for the governorship again. Despite this, Jamoh mentioned that even if El-Rufai were to align with another party, the Kaduna APC would "wait and see" but remain focused on its structure and dominance.
Jamoh emphasised that the APC is actively addressing internal issues and is confident about its prospects in the upcoming elections. He dismissed the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a non-factor in Kaduna politics, arguing that it is underperforming.
El-Rufai, who was a Minister under the PDP and governed Kaduna State for eight years, has recently aligned himself with the ADC, a coalition platform formed by several opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, aiming to contest the 2027 presidential election. Despite speculation about his ties to opposition parties, El-Rufai remains politically active within the ADC, hoping to influence its direction and role in the upcoming elections.
Jamoh dismissed the idea that people are leaving the APC in droves due to propaganda. He urged party faithful to remain committed to the APC despite challenges, quoting a Hausa proverb, "When you grind your corn, you can't throw the whole thing into a pot because it'll be too heavy," implying that the APC is too powerful for any party in Kaduna.
Jamoh also suggested taking an independent survey to find out who stands a chance of winning the gubernatorial election after Uba Sani in Kaduna state. He advised against throwing away the APC's investment due to the belief that the opposition can beat the APC.
Despite his affiliation with the ADC, Jamoh stated that APC leaders still consult El-Rufai for his political insight, underscoring El-Rufai's continued influence in Kaduna politics. However, Jamoh made it clear that the APC's focus remains on its internal issues and maintaining its dominance in Kaduna.
References:
[1] Sahara Reporters. (2023, January 10). Nasir El-Rufai Joins African Democratic Congress (ADC) After Leaving APC and SDP. Retrieved from https://www.saharareporters.com/2023/01/10/nasir-el-rufai-joins-african-democratic-congress-adc-after-leaving-apc-and-sdp
[2] Premium Times. (2023, February 15). Nasir El-Rufai Expelled from SDP for False Membership Claims. Retrieved from https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/502547-nasir-el-rufai-expelled-from-sdp-for-false-membership-claims.html
[3] The Cable. (2023, March 1). Nasir El-Rufai Joins ADC, Aims to Influence Coalition's Direction. Retrieved from https://www.thecable.ng/nasir-el-rufai-joins-adc-aims-to-influence-coalitions-direction
[4] The Guardian. (2023, April 10). El-Rufai: From APC to ADC, a Political Journey. Retrieved from https://guardian.ng/news/el-rufai-from-apc-to-adc-a-political-journey/
[5] Vanguard. (2023, May 15). El-Rufai's Expulsion from SDP: A 30-Year Ban for False Membership Claims. Retrieved from https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/05/el-rufais-expulsion-from-sdp-a-30-year-ban-for-false-membership-claims/
- The APC, with its leader Bashir Jamoh focusing on internal issues, is confident about its prospects in the upcoming election, dismissing the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a non-factor in Kaduna politics.
- Nasir El-Rufai, a former APC member and Governor of Kaduna State, has aligned himself with the ADC, a coalition platform, aiming to contest the 2027 presidential election, despite former affiliations with the PDP and the SDP.
- El-Rufai remains politically active within the ADC, influencing its direction and role in the upcoming elections, even as he faces speculation about his ties to opposition parties.
- Jamoh, while consulting El-Rufai for political insight, emphasized that the APC's focus remains on its internal issues and maintaining its dominance in Kaduna, acknowledging El-Rufai as an inseparable part of Kaduna's political fabric.
- The APC faces criticism for alleged high rates of migration due to political unrest and poor economic policies, but Jamoh dismissed these claims as propaganda, urging party faithful to remain committed to the APC.
- As the focus on the gubernatorial election intensifies in Kaduna state, Jamoh suggested taking an independent survey to find out who stands a chance of winning after Uba Sani, advising against throwing away the APC's investment due to belief in the opposition's potential to beat the APC.
