By Kevin Akor
ABUJA, Nigeria (chatnewstv.com) — Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai on Thursday accused Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress of benefiting from selective enforcement of anti-corruption laws, warning that political alignment now appears to determine who faces scrutiny and who is protected.
Speaking at the 23rd edition of the Daily Trust Dialogue in Abuja, a policy forum on national governance, El-Rufai said the country was drifting toward a system of accountability that punishes opponents while shielding those aligned with power.
“Today, we practice governance without real accountability,” El-Rufai said. “We conduct elections, we create agencies, we announce asset recoveries, but accountability remains uneven and politically influenced.”
El-Rufai, a former minister and two-term governor, said corruption prosecutions have become “punitive for opposition figures, negotiable for defectors, and invisible for those close to power.”
He added that members of the APC are “almost never accused of corruption,” a perception he said poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s democratic survival.
The former governor warned that selective enforcement has tangible consequences for citizens, including unpaid salaries, abandoned projects, decaying infrastructure and rising public cynicism.
“When laws are enforced selectively, deterrence collapses,” he said. “And when deterrence collapses, public trust evaporates.”
El-Rufai argued that Nigeria’s reform efforts have focused too heavily on structures and procedures rather than measurable outcomes, leaving citizens unconvinced that justice applies equally to all, regardless of political affiliation.
He called for strengthening institutions rather than concentrating power in individuals, with particular emphasis on judicial reforms to safeguard credible elections and the independence of the electoral commission.
“Without an impartial judiciary and a transparent electoral system, democratic reforms will remain cosmetic,” he said.
El-Rufai urged political leaders to restore ethical and competent governance, saying politics loses its meaning when integrity disappears. “Reform is not just about new policies,” he said. “It is about ending a system that rewards impunity and loyalty over competence.”
The dialogue drew prominent figures from across Nigeria’s political spectrum. It was chaired by former Senate President Bukola Saraki and attended by former Oyo State governor Rashidi Ladoja as special guest of honor. Panelists included Sunday Dare, the president’s special adviser on media and policy communication, and former lawmaker Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje.
Political analysts said El-Rufai’s remarks have reignited debate over whether Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign has become a tool of political convenience, reflecting widespread public frustration over perceived double standards in governance.
As the country approaches another election cycle, critics warn that unresolved concerns about selective justice could further erode public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
