Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has leveled sharp accusations against former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, alleging he is collaborating with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to position the latter as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate in 2027, a move the APC claims violates the nation’s informal power-sharing tradition. The party argues that such a move would disrupt the rotational presidency system, which typically alternates leadership between the country’s northern and southern regions. The presidency is currently held by Bola Tinubu, a southern leader elected in 2023.
The APC’s criticism follows El-Rufai’s public rebuke of Tinubu’s government during a political gathering in Sokoto last weekend, where he reportedly labeled the administration “incompetent and clannish,” according to local media outlet Media Talk Africa. In a statement issued by APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka, the party dismissed El-Rufai’s remarks as politically motivated and lacking substantive policy alternatives. Morka accused El-Rufai and Atiku of exploiting the ADC as a platform to advance personal ambitions, warning that their alliance risked destabilizing national cohesion.
“This bloc’s actions mirror tactics that previously fractured the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),” Morka stated, referencing Atiku’s former political home. “El-Rufai and Atiku’s hijacking of the ADC poses a direct threat to Nigeria’s unity and progress.” The APC further criticized opposition figures for relying on “headline attacks” rather than presenting actionable governance strategies.
The controversy hinges on Nigeria’s long-standing, though unwritten, principle of rotating presidential power between the north and south to balance regional representation—a practice credited with mitigating ethnic and religious tensions. By pushing Atiku, a northern politician, as a 2027 contender under the ADC banner, the APC claims the duo is undermining this delicate balance. Analysts note the dispute reflects deepening rifts within Nigeria’s political landscape, compounded by economic challenges and public dissatisfaction with Tinubu’s reform agenda, including austerity measures that have fueled inflation.
El-Rufai, once a key APC figure, has grown increasingly critical of the Tinubu administration since being sidelined from ministerial appointments last year. His alignment with Atiku—a five-time presidential candidate—has raised questions about shifting alliances ahead of the next election cycle. The ADC, a smaller opposition party, has yet to officially respond to the APC’s claims.
As debates over power rotation intensify, the APC’s accusations highlight the tension between political ambition and Nigeria’s efforts to maintain equitable representation in its fragile democracy.
