Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has voiced strong concerns over the current state of the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that the party has strayed far from its founding principles.
In an interview on Arise TV on Tuesday, El-Rufai expressed feelings of abandonment by the party he helped establish, stating, “I didn’t leave the APC; the APC left me. We founded this party based on certain values, but today, the party has moved away from them. I feel stranded.”
The former governor criticized the party’s failure to uphold internal democracy, particularly highlighting that key decision-making bodies like the National Caucus and the National Executive Committee (NEC) have not convened in over two years.
“The APC constitution mandates the NEC to meet at least once every quarter, but no meeting has been held for two years. These meetings are crucial for aligning government policies with the party’s manifesto,” El-Rufai lamented.
He revealed that he had met with several former APC national chairmen, including Chief Bisi Akande, Adams Oshiomhole, John Odigie-Oyegun, and Abdullahi Adamu, seeking clarity on the party’s direction, but none could provide answers.
Despite his dissatisfaction, El-Rufai insisted he remains politically active, though not necessarily as a candidate. “I will remain in politics for life, but that doesn’t mean I will keep contesting elections. I believe I have a role to play in influencing better leadership within our party,” he said.
When asked if he might consider another political platform, El-Rufai did not rule out the possibility, stating, “If I can’t find those progressive values in APC, sooner or later, I may have to find another platform to pursue them. But I still hope the party will correct its course.”
As the APC prepares for upcoming National Caucus and NEC meetings, El-Rufai called on party leaders to reflect on the core principles that once united them, urging a return to the ideals that birthed the APC.
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