By Taibat Ummi Yakubu
A group of former political associates and appointees of ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has defended its decision to part ways with his political camp and return to the All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that political loyalty does not amount to permanent ownership of individuals or political structures.
The group, operating under the banner of the Kaduna De-Initiative, said its members once stood firmly with El-Rufai because of shared political beliefs and common goals, but stressed that every politician retains the right to decide his or her political future.
Their position was outlined in a statement released on Thursday in Kaduna and signed by Mukthar Hazo, a former Deputy Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, and Nasiru Maikano, a former Kaduna State Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Responding to criticisms over their departure from El-Rufai’s camp, the group rejected suggestions that their actions amounted to betrayal, arguing that political alliances naturally evolve as interests, priorities and circumstances change.
According to the group, cracks in their relationship with the former governor began to emerge after his re-election in 2019.
They claimed that several longtime allies gradually felt sidelined, while members of El-Rufai’s family were increasingly perceived as playing influential roles in government affairs.
While acknowledging El-Rufai’s right to work with family members and trusted associates, the group expressed concern that the broader political network that helped build his political success became less influential over time.
The former allies said differences deepened after El-Rufai left office, particularly during political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections and discussions surrounding the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship ticket in Kaduna State.
According to the group, some members had favoured former commissioner Ja’afaru Sani as a potential political successor, while El-Rufai threw his support behind Isa Ashiru, a politician who had previously contested against him.
The group argued that political defections and realignments should not automatically be viewed through the lens of disloyalty, saying the reasons behind such decisions deserved equal consideration.
Questioning the criticism directed at them, the group asked why former associates should be denied the same freedom of political choice that political leaders exercise when making decisions about alliances and affiliations.
“If El-Rufai could make political choices based on his assessment of circumstances and interests, why should his former associates be denied that same right?” the statement said.
The group maintained that its decision to chart a different political course was not driven by bitterness, personal grievances or a desire for revenge.
Instead, it said members chose to take responsibility for their political future and that of their supporters, whom they described as the foundation of their political relevance.
They also credited Governor Uba Sani’s reconciliation efforts for creating an opportunity to return to the APC and participate once again in the state’s mainstream political activities.
Despite their departure, the group insisted it had no interest in engaging in a personal feud with El-Rufai and continued to respect his right to pursue his own political ambitions and alliances.
“We are not making this argument out of bitterness. We have chosen reconciliation. We have chosen to return to the APC. We have chosen to move forward,” the group stated.
The former allies added that political leadership should ultimately remain accountable to supporters and constituents, stressing that their future political direction would be determined by their convictions and the people who continue to place their trust in them.
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