El-Rufai blasts APC, calls Tinubu presidency an ‘evil’ threatening Nigeria

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has expressed deep regret over his role in supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s emergence in 2023, describing the current administration as a “national tragedy” that must be corrected before it causes irreparable damage to Nigeria.

In a candid interview on Arise News on Monday, El-Rufai declared that he has no political ambition but is driven by a sense of responsibility to undo what he now sees as a grave political misjudgment.

“I have no ambition,” El-Rufai said. “I just feel that having contributed to bringing about this tragedy to Nigeria by supporting the emergence of Bola Tinubu as president, I must also contribute towards removing this evil that, if left unchecked, will destroy the country.”

El-Rufai revealed that his recent alignment with an emerging opposition coalition is part of a strategic move to challenge the current government in the 2027 general elections. According to him, the coalition is exploring both the option of adopting an existing political party and registering a new one.

“You don’t go to war with one plan,” he noted. “Early in our discussions, coalition leaders agreed to identify a suitable existing platform, while also exploring the possibility of registering a brand-new party.”

The former governor pointed to persistent interference by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in opposition parties as one of the reasons many in the coalition are leaning towards forming a new political party.

“A new party has no legacy baggage or internal sabotage,” he explained. “What the APC has been doing is sponsoring crises within opposition parties—recruiting and financing what I call ‘viruses’ to destabilise them. That’s what we’re seeing in the Labour Party, PDP, and NNPP.”

El-Rufai also cast doubt on the credibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), questioning its ability to register a new political party under its current leadership.

“We don’t believe INEC under Mahmood Yakubu will register any new party. Yakubu is not Attahiru Jega, and Tinubu is not Goodluck Jonathan. But we’re still going ahead with the application to expose the lack of independence of INEC and the government’s efforts to suppress opposition,” he stated.

On the issue of a potential platform, El-Rufai threw his weight behind the Social Democratic Party (SDP), describing it as the most viable option for the coalition.

“The SDP has history, sentimental value, and a solid structure. Its name, its logo—everything about it is perfect. But the decision will not be mine alone. It will be a collective one,” he said.

When asked about the possibility of a consensus presidential candidate from the coalition, El-Rufai dismissed the idea as premature.

“First, we need a party. Every party has its rules and constitution. Nobody is talking about ambition. What we are focused on is rescuing Nigeria.”

He also pushed back against assumptions that the involvement of high-profile political figures automatically equates to presidential ambition.

“Big names don’t mean big ambitions,” he said. “We’re all saying the same thing: Nigeria is in trouble. Let’s unite, send this government packing, and put the country back on track.”

El-Rufai, who once championed the Buhari presidency in 2019 and supported Tinubu in 2023, ended on a sobering note.

“I regret supporting both. The outcome of those choices has shown that competence, not political calculation, should guide leadership selection.”