A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Bashir Jamoh, has insisted that the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, remains a stakeholder in the ruling party despite speculation about his political alignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Naija News reports that Jamoh made this known while addressing journalists in Kaduna on Thursday, amid growing concerns that El-Rufai may be warming up to opposition parties such as the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
According to Jamoh, El-Rufai’s political insight is still being sought by APC leaders despite his recent public statements about other parties.
He said, “As far as I’m concerned, this is my opinion, Malam Nasir El-Rufai is still with us. Yes, he mentioned his membership of the SDP. Yes, he mentioned the ADC. But we are yet to get to the point of bidding him farewell.
“We still consult him. We seek his expertise, his knowledge, and his advice. Forget the politics for a moment, this is about public service.”
He added that if El-Rufai were ever to withhold his counsel, “God will ask him why.”
The APC stalwart likened El-Rufai to an inseparable part of Kaduna’s political fabric, describing him as a “political institution.”
“You cannot disown your child of eight years. He was Minister under the PDP. He joined CPC, which merged into APC, and governed this state for eight years. He’s a part of our political history,” Jamoh stressed.
He noted that even if El-Rufai makes a definitive move to another party, the Kaduna APC will “wait and see” but remain focused on its structure and dominance.
ADC Not A Threat In Kaduna – Jamoh
Speaking on the strength of the ADC, which El-Rufai is rumoured to be aligning with, Jamoh dismissed it as a non-factor in Kaduna politics.
He said, “We don’t even know who is who in the ADC yet. Yes, we hear he is the North-West leader of the ADC, but as far as Kaduna is concerned, they are underperforming.
“Are you talking about El-Rufai or the ADC? Nasir El-Rufai cannot contest for governorship again. That chapter is closed.”
Jamoh argued that the real issue is whether any party El-Rufai joins could pose a legitimate threat to the APC’s grip on power in the state.
Quoting a Hausa proverb, Jamoh said, “When you grind your corn, you can’t throw the whole thing into a pot because it’ll be too heavy,” adding that “APC is too heavy for any party here.”
“Maybe you don’t know Kaduna politics very well. Go and take an independent survey today. Who stands a chance of winning the gubernatorial election after Uba Sani? Check the opposition parties — who among them can challenge APC? We have more than 10 capable candidates,” he said.
While acknowledging that the APC was not without its challenges, Jamoh stated that the party was actively addressing internal issues and urged party faithful to remain committed.
He added, “Yes, there are challenges. I agree. But we are addressing them. That’s why I’m speaking to you now. Don’t fall for the propaganda that people are leaving in droves.
“Don’t throw away what you have because you think the opposition can beat APC. Remember where you invested. One day, you will reap the benefit of that investment.”
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