Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has expressed disappointment with the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party he helped to establish, saying it has left him “stranded.”
Speaking on national television, El-Rufai criticized the party’s current trajectory but ruled out any possibility of returning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing such a move as “jumping from frying pan into fire.”
“I’m a founding member of the APC and I am still a member, but I have concerns about how the party is being run,” El-Rufai stated. “In the last two years, there’s been no internal democracy, and the party organs haven’t functioned properly. There’s no alignment between the government and the progressive ideals we stood for.”
While expressing hope that upcoming national caucus and NEC meetings might steer the APC back on course, El-Rufai didn’t rule out leaving if the party fails to correct itself. “I’m not leaving the APC; the APC has left me,” he said. “If things don’t change, I may find another platform to pursue the progressive values I believe in.”
El-Rufai made it clear that his dissatisfaction lies with the party and not President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Addressing rumors surrounding his absence from Tinubu’s cabinet, he revealed that while the President initially asked him to serve, plans changed.
“President Tinubu personally asked me to join his government. After two months of discussions, I agreed under certain conditions. But somewhere along the line, the President changed his mind,” El-Rufai explained, dismissing reports that the National Assembly blocked his ministerial nomination.
He added, “It’s a misconception to think that contributing to a government means you must be rewarded with an appointment. I had my plans, and life goes on.”
El-Rufai concluded by reaffirming his stance against returning to the PDP, stating, “If anything, the PDP has gotten worse. If the APC doesn’t realign with its core values, I’ll have to explore other options, but PDP is off the table.”
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