Nasir El-Rufai slammed the APC for neglecting its core principles, urging opposition parties to unite and protect democracy amid poor leadership

[dropcap]F[/dropcap]ormer Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has delivered a scathing critique of his former party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing it of neglecting its foundational principles and fostering poor leadership.

Also read: Omoluabi Progressives exit APC, chart new political course in Osun

Speaking at a national conference in Abuja on Monday, El-Rufai described the state of governance and opposition politics in Nigeria as a “national emergency.”

El-Rufai shared his comments in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, lamenting the lack of internal democracy and active party structures within the APC.

He stated, “I no longer recognise the APC. No party organ has met in two years—no caucus, no NEC, nothing. You don’t even know if it is a one-man show; it’s a zero-man show.”

The former governor further criticised the leadership emerging from Nigerian political parties, attributing it to unqualified delegates.

He emphasised the need for higher standards for both candidates and delegates, stating that the constitutional minimum of a secondary school certificate was insufficient for party nominations.

“You cannot afford to have illiterates, semi-illiterates, and cunning people as your leaders. This is why we end up with the poor leadership we have today,” El-Rufai remarked.

Reflecting on the APC’s founding, El-Rufai pointed out that the party was originally formed to combat corruption, rebuild the economy, and enhance security.

However, he expressed disappointment that these goals have been abandoned.

“The problems that led to the creation of the APC remain unresolved, but I no longer believe the APC is interested in addressing them. The distance between me and the party is widening,” he admitted.

El-Rufai also urged opposition parties to put aside their differences and form a broad coalition to challenge the ruling party, warning that Nigeria’s democracy was at risk.

He accused the ruling party of undermining opposition efforts, stating that internal mercenaries in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and similar issues in the Labour Party were hampering their effectiveness.

“There seems to be a deliberate project to destroy opposition parties,” he claimed, referencing conversations with Labour Party leader Peter Obi.

El-Rufai further warned of a looming crisis, citing a poll that revealed 75% of registered voters might abstain from the 2027 elections.

The former governor, drawing from his experience under military rule, cautioned against a repeat of history. “This is dangerous.

Also read: Omoluabi Progressives exit APC, chart new political course in Osun

For those of us who lived half our lives under military rule, we know what it is. We don’t want a military rule, but we also don’t want civilians behaving like the military in their babbar riga and suits,” he added.