By NewsVista Reporter | June 24, 2025
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has opened up about longstanding tensions between himself and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, revealing that the two never shared political camaraderie — even during their time as founding members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking during a live appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Monday, El-Rufai was strikingly candid.
“Bola Tinubu never really liked me, but we never really got along. In the party, I was Buhari’s boy,” El-Rufai said, referring to former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The former governor went on to clarify that his allegiance within the party always leaned towards Buhari’s faction, rather than Tinubu’s political network.
“The person I got along with was Baba Akande,” he added, referencing Chief Bisi Akande, the former Osun State governor and APC founding leader.
El-Rufai Questions INEC’s Neutrality
In the same interview, El-Rufai also raised concerns over the neutrality of the current Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), casting doubt on the commission’s willingness to accommodate political diversity.
Drawing comparisons between Professor Attahiru Jega—under whose leadership APC was first registered—and current INEC Chairman Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, El-Rufai questioned whether Nigeria’s electoral body would entertain the registration of a new opposition coalition.
“I don’t believe INEC under Mahmoud Yakubu will register a new coalition political party,” he said.
His statement comes amid talks of a potential “third force” or coalition party, reportedly being pushed by figures like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Nasir El-Rufai himself.
Political Tensions Deepen
El-Rufai’s remarks follow weeks of speculation that internal divisions within the ruling APC are growing, with former allies now appearing on opposite sides of Nigeria’s shifting political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.
Though the presidency has yet to officially respond, political analysts say El-Rufai’s statements signal deepening rifts among APC heavyweights and could reshape alignments within the party in the months to come.
Leave a Reply