El-Rufai allies reject betrayal claim and rejoin APC
Former associates of Nasir El-Rufai have rejected allegations that they abandoned the former Kaduna governor, saying he broke the political understanding that united them. The group, Kaduna De-Initiative, also announced its return to the APC after Governor Uba Sani’s reconciliation initiative.
Former political associates and grassroots allies of ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai have rejected claims that they betrayed him, saying the former governor abandoned the political understanding that had brought them together. The position was signed by former Deputy Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly Mukhtar Isa Hazo and other members of Kaduna De-Initiative. They said they had supported El-Rufai, campaigned for him and helped build political structures across the state.
The group said its relationship with the former governor deteriorated during his second term because of alleged marginalisation, disagreements and declining trust. It also alleged that members of El-Rufai’s family gained increasing influence in government affairs, although it said its concern was not his reliance on family members itself. The associates identified the 2027 governorship contest on the African Democratic Congress platform as the final rupture.
They said Ja’afaru Sani was expected to lead their political structure, but alleged that El-Rufai backed Isa Ashiru instead. Ashiru won the primary with 86,113 votes against Sani’s 29,580, while Sani rejected the result and alleged irregularities. The group acknowledged that claims about proposed appointments for two of El-Rufai’s wives had not been independently established.
It said political loyalty was not a permanent debt and announced that it had accepted Governor Uba Sani’s reconciliation initiative and returned to the APC.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.