El-Rufai loses mother amid recent family bereavement

By Austine Agbo Emmanuel, Kaduna

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has lost his mother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, who died on Friday, family sources said.

Her death comes days after the former governor’s sister-in-law, Safiya Ali Rufai, died on March 20, 2026, following a brief illness, marking a second bereavement for the family within a short period.

The death was confirmed by Bellows El-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives and grandson of the deceased.

“Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. I announce the passing of my grandmother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, who died a few hours ago,” he said in a post on Facebook.

“We are grateful for the life she lived and pray that Allah grants her eternal rest. On behalf of the family, we seek prayers,” he added.

Family sources said the late matriarch had been managing age-related health challenges, which worsened in recent times.

El-Rufai, who served as governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023, remains a prominent figure in Nigeria’s political landscape, particularly within the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He has been involved in national political debates and party affairs in recent months.

The latest loss comes at a difficult time for the former governor, adding to personal and political pressures in recent weeks.

Sympathies have begun to pour in from political associates and supporters, as family members prayed for Allah to forgive her shortcomings and grant her Aljannatul Firdaus.