Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of lacking internal democracy and abandoning its founding principles. Speaking at a national conference on strengthening democracy in Nigeria, El-Rufai described the state of governance and opposition as a “national emergency,” criticizing the party for failing to hold key meetings for two years.
“I no longer recognize the APC. No party organ has met—no caucus, no NEC, nothing. It’s not even a one-man show; it’s a zero-man show,” he said.
He also slammed the quality of political leadership, attributing it to unqualified party delegates. According to him, the constitutional requirement of a secondary school certificate should not be enough for party nominations.
Reflecting on the APC’s founding goals—fighting corruption, improving security, and rebuilding the economy—El-Rufai claimed these objectives had been abandoned. He called on opposition parties to unite against the ruling party, alleging that the crises within the opposition were being orchestrated by “internal mercenaries” to weaken them.
The Presidency swiftly responded, with Special Adviser Daniel Bwala accusing El-Rufai of hypocrisy, suggesting his stance would be different if he were part of President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet. The APC National Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim, also defended the party, stating that it remains open to feedback and dialogue.
Meanwhile, opposition parties have backed El-Rufai’s claims, accusing the APC of failing to deliver on its promises to Nigerians.
