ABUJA, Nigeria (CHATNEWSTV) — Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for its inability to address Nigeria’s challenges and accused the party of undermining opposition groups.
“I no longer recognize the APC,” El-Rufai, a founding member of the party, said Monday at a democracy conference in Abuja.
“No party organ of the APC has met for the past two years. No caucus, no NEC, nothing. You don’t even know if it is a one-man show; it is a zero-man show.”
The conference, focused on strengthening democracy, was organized by several civil society groups, including the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) and the National Peace Committee (NPC).
El-Rufai lamented that the APC had abandoned its founding objectives of fighting corruption, revamping the economy, and restoring security.
“The problems are still there. However, I no longer believe that my party believes in confronting those problems,” he said.
He expressed deep concern over the state of Nigeria’s opposition parties, accusing the Tinubu administration of actively working to destroy them.
“The way and manner opposition political parties are being targeted for destruction and the style and quality of governance in this country today is a national emergency,” El-Rufai warned.
The former governor cited internal sabotage within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and claimed similar efforts were underway against the Labour Party.
“There are internal mercenaries in the PDP that have been hired, paid, or otherwise motivated to destroy the party. The party is on its way to the grave, and it is most unfortunate,” he said.
El-Rufai shared that Labour Party’s presidential candidate Peter Obi had expressed similar concerns.
“I don’t know what is happening in the party that I contested for president,” Obi reportedly told El-Rufai.
El-Rufai urged opposition parties to unite to protect Nigeria’s democracy. “We have to put aside our differences and create a broad platform. For those of us in our 60s, we lived half our lives under military rule. We know what it is, and we don’t want civilians behaving like the military in their babbar riga and suits,” he said.
He also highlighted the dangers of voter apathy, citing a recent poll that found 75% of registered voters do not plan to participate in the 2027 election.
“This is very dangerous, and I believe every voice must rise to fight for this democracy,” he said.
