Politics
2027: Overrated ethnic champion – APC slams El-Rufai over political moves
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, of stoking ethnic tensions and plotting against President Bola Tinubu’s re-election ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, made the accusation on Sunday, alleging that El-Rufai’s actions were driven by his frustration over his failure to secure a ministerial appointment in Tinubu’s administration.
El-Rufai, a former Federal Capital Territory minister, was initially nominated for a ministerial position but was rejected by the National Assembly on security grounds.
Since then, his relationship with President Tinubu has reportedly soured, with the former governor engaging in meetings with key northern political figures, including opposition leaders.
In recent weeks, El-Rufai has held discussions with former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.
His growing rapport with Atiku has fueled speculations of a possible political realignment ahead of the next election cycle.
Last Friday, El-Rufai joined Atiku’s entourage on a condolence visit to the family of elder statesman and Niger Delta leader, Chief Edwin Clark. Speaking during the visit, El-Rufai praised Atiku’s contributions to Nigeria’s economic reforms during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.
Following the visit, the former governor and Atiku observed the Juma’at prayer together, further cementing speculations about their growing political alliance.
On Saturday, El-Rufai intensified engagements with the opposition by meeting with the Kaduna State executive committee of the PDP.
The closed-door meeting, which was attended by his former Chief of Staff, Bashir Saidu, has fueled discussions about potential bipartisan cooperation in the buildup to 2027.
Speaking on El-Rufai’s political moves, the APC National Secretary, Basiru, said they no longer pay attention to his activities after the party discovered he was “an overrated ethnic champion” who is always ready to pitch northern politicians against their southern counterparts.
The party scribe slammed El-Rufai over his continued posture as the mouthpiece of the North and recent fraternity with top opposition figures.
He said, “I have told you before and am still telling you again that we are concerned about our affairs in the APC. For parties in Nigeria, it is free exit and free entry. So anybody is free to exit if he wants to exit. But we will not dignify such moves with any comment for now.
“We understand that sectional politics is what makes some people tick. Unfortunately, he (El-Rufai) is not thinking about the development of the country but is stoking up the ethnic nationality agenda. This South versus North posture shows that all along, he has been overrated as a person.”
Hinting at El-Rufai’s grievance, Basiru noted, “The only thing we want to say is that governance is a serious matter and nobody has the birthright to be an appointee of government. There are more than 180 million Nigerians and quite a number of them are qualified. So, if you don’t have an opportunity to serve in a government, it does not mean that you should be going around and trying to become an emergency activist. As I said before, politics is a free exit and free entry. The APC is solid and we are forging ahead.”
Amidst the growing tensions, El-Rufai has openly criticized the APC, alleging a lack of internal democracy within the party.
Former member of the House of Representatives, Farah Dagogo, has emerged as the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Dagogo secured victory in the party’s direct primary polling 64,700 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Sokonte Davies, who garnered 9,050 votes.
The result was announced by the Chairman of the ADC Rivers State Governorship Primary Electoral Committee, Agu Bryan, alongside other committee members and representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
…Commends Uzodimma’s leadership
The Southeast Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has expressed deep appreciation to the party’s elected officials, stakeholders, and members for their unwavering support that made the State Houses of Assembly Primary Election a resounding success.
Speaking on behalf of the Southeast Executive Committee, the party’s National Vice Chairman, Southeast, Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu, specifically thanked Imo State Governor Senator Hope Uzodimma, who serves as the leader of the party in the region, for his guidance.
He commended the governor for his consistent support that guaranteed peaceful and successful primaries, and noted that his leadership provided the necessary framework for harmony, encouraging all participants to prioritize collective progress over individual interests.
Dr. Arodiogbu further congratulated all winners of the primaries, urging them to embrace humility in victory.
He emphasized the importance of remaining grounded as the party works to consolidate its achievements and prepare effectively for the 2027 general elections.
He also reiterated APC’s commitment to inclusive participation and strategic planning across the Southeast and said that with these successful primaries, the party signals readiness to build on its foundation, delivering impactful representation and addressing the needs of citizens in the zone.
The primaries held smoothly across the five states of the Southeast geopolitical zone on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, reflecting strong unity and commitment within the party ranks.
This achievement underscored the growing strength of the APC in the region, where diligent coordination and collective efforts translated into orderly processes free from major disruptions.
Politics
FEDERAL HIGH COURT STOPS INEC FROM RESTRICTING DEFECTION TO ANOTHER PARTY AFTER CONTESTING PRIMARY
Here is the judgement from the Federal High Court, Abuja today
1. INEC can only monitor 2027 primaries but cannot fix timetable for when a political party should conduct its primaries for this election
2. INEC cannot give a shorter timeframe or abridge the period in which a political party can provide information of their candidates for 2027 election
3. INEC cannot give a shorter timeframe to political parties as regards withdrawal or replacement of candidates (Placeholders)
4. INEC cannot publish any final list of candidates for 2027 elections before 60 days to election.
5. INEC cannot fix 2027 campaigns to end 2 days to elections.
6. This is AN ORDER nullifying and setting aside the timeframes imposed by INEC for 2027 General Election for:
– the conduct of primary elections by political parties for the 2027 general elections
– the submission of personal particulars of candidates by their political parties for the 2027 general elections
– the withdrawal and replacement of candidates by political parties
– the publication of the final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections and campaigning.
Is this a trap or a game changer for some aspirants???
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