El-Rufai’s former allies defend political realignment
Former political appointees and associates of Nasir El-Rufai have defended their decision to leave his political camp, saying political alliances do not confer ownership of individuals or their political structures.
The group, operating under the Kaduna De-Initiative, who have returned to APC said its members supported El-Rufai in the past based on shared political interests and convictions, but retained the right to make independent decisions about their political future.
The position was contained in a statement issued on Thursday in Kaduna signed by Mukthar Hazo and Nasiru Maikano on behalf of the group.
Hazo was former Deputy Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly while Maikano was former Kaduna State Chairman of Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The group rejected descriptions of their departure from the former governor’s camp as betrayal, arguing that political relationships could change when circumstances, interests and objectives changed.
The group said the political relationship between them and El-Rufai became strained after he won re-election in 2019.
They alleged that some former allies subsequently felt marginalised while members of the former governor’s family were perceived to have gained increasing influence in government affairs.
The group, however, said it did not question El-Rufai’s right to work with family members or trusted associates, but expressed concern over what it described as the weakening of the broader political structure.
The group said disagreements became more pronounced after El-Rufai left office, particularly during political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship primary.
According to the group, some of its members regarded Ja’afaru Sani as a preferred successor, while El-Rufai supported Isa Ashiru, his former political rival.
The group also argued that political departures from El-Rufai’s camp should be examined beyond allegations of betrayal, saying the circumstances surrounding such departures were equally important.
“If El-Rufai could make political choices based on his assessment of circumstances and interests, why should his former associates be denied that same right?” it asked.
The former allies said their decision to realign was not motivated by hatred or political revenge, but by a desire to take responsibility for their political future and that of their supporters.
They said Gov. Uba Sani’s reconciliation initiative provided an avenue for them to return to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and contribute to the political development of Kaduna State.
The group said it remained uninterested in a personal confrontation with El-Rufai and respected his right to make his political choices.
“We are not making this argument out of bitterness. We have chosen reconciliation. We have chosen to return to the APC. We have chosen to move forward,” it said.
It added that its members believed their political future should be determined by themselves and the supporters who had entrusted them with their confidence.