Former Kaduna State Governor and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nasir-el-Rufai has alleged a deliberate plot to run the opposition parties aground ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The former Kaduna state governor made the allegation in his remarks at the two-day national conference on ‘Strengthening Democracy in Nigeria’ which commenced on Monday at the Continental Hotel, Abuja.
The former FCT Minister who posted his submission on his X handle further noted that the recent internal implosion within the predominant opposition political parties was meant to destroy them.
He was, however, silent on the masterminds of the crises rocking the parties.
“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.’
“There seems to be a deliberate project to destroy opposition.”
He also expressed concern over the growing indifference towards the government in the polity, citing a poll that revealed 75% of registered voters might abstain from the 2027 elections.
Describing it as worrisome, the former governor urged chieftains of the opposition parties to close their ranks ahead next general elections.
“This is 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.
“This is a national emergency, and we must act before history repeats itself,” he said.
Giving a critique of his party, el-Rufai dismissed the APC as lacking in internal democracy and has since become a one-man show.
“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 further submitted that the founding vision that informed the formation of the party has been lost.
“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.”
