Following the resignation of former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Shehu Sani, his long-standing political foe, has described him as a liability to the party, expressing joy that his exit is a significant relief to the party.
Senator Shehu Sani made this claim while appearing on Channels TV: Politics Today on Monday, March 10, 2025.
He stated that Nasir El-Rufai has no political relevance in Kaduna State, citing as proof the fact that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu lost the 2023 presidential election in the state to Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), despite El-Rufai being the sitting APC governor at the time.
Senator Sani further argued, using facts and figures, that the current Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, did not emerge as Governor because of El-Rufai’s influence or sponsorship but rather due to his own goodwill in mending political divisions something El-Rufai failed to do.
He added that the people of Kaduna State appreciate the personality of the current Governor, emphasizing that his goodwill has brought peace and unity to both Southern and Northern Kaduna, in contrast to the rifts and divisions El-Rufai created before leaving office in 2023.
He stated that had Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, been appointed as Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a position he failed to secure during the Senate screening due to his crimes against humanity and institutions there would have been no discussion about his resignation.
He remarked that El-Rufai failed to understand that power is transient and that his past actions are now coming back to haunt him.
Senator Sani accused El-Rufai of orchestrating insecurity and sponsoring genocide in Southern Kaduna, warning that such an individual should never have been given access to power in the first place.
He concluded by asserting that El-Rufai is known for seeking domination wherever he goes, regardless of the leadership structure in place before his arrival.
He predicted that confusion and conflict would soon emerge within the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the party El-Rufai has now joined.
It should be recalled that former Governor Nasir El-Rufai announced his resignation from the APC on March 10, 2025, immediately joining the SDP.
He cited his reason for leaving as the unwillingness of those in power to address Nigeria’s problems.
Meanwhile, a cross-section of Nigerians reacting on social media attributed his defection to political opportunism, claiming that he only left because President Tinubu refused to appoint him to his cabinet.
