APC Is Now a Zero-Man Show, Says El-Rufai
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has criticized the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the party of deviating from its founding principles and failing to provide quality leadership.
Speaking at a national conference in Abuja on Monday, centered on strengthening democracy in Nigeria, El-Rufai described the state of governance and opposition in the country as a “national emergency.”
El-Rufai, in a post on his X handle on Tuesday, lamented the absence of internal democracy within the APC. “I no longer recognize 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,” he said.
The former governor also criticized the quality of leadership produced by political parties, attributing it to the lack of qualified delegates.
“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,” he stated.
He urged political parties to set higher standards for candidates and delegates, emphasizing that the constitutional minimum of a secondary school certificate should not suffice for party nominations.
Reflecting on the APC’s foundation, El-Rufai recalled its original goals of fighting corruption, rebuilding the economy, and improving security. However, he said these objectives 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 revealed.
El-Rufai also addressed challenges facing opposition parties, calling for unity to challenge the ruling party and protect democracy.
“There are internal mercenaries in the PDP, hired and motivated to destroy the party. The Labour Party is also facing similar issues. Peter Obi himself told me, ‘I don’t know what’s happening in the party I contested with.’”
He alleged that there seemed to be a deliberate effort to undermine opposition parties.
El-Rufai further cited a poll indicating that 75% of registered voters might abstain from the 2027 elections, describing the situation as dangerous.
“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 warned.
He appealed to opposition parties to set aside their differences and form a united front to safeguard democracy. “This is a national emergency, and we must act before history repeats itself,” he concluded.
