El-Rufai’s Allies Dump ADC, Return to APC With 150,000 Supporters

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s prominent political allies have dumped the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and returned to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring support for Governor Uba Sani’s bid for a second term.

The defectors, who include El-Rufai’s former Chief of Staff, Bashir Saidu; former Kaduna North Senator, Abdu Kwari; and former commissioner, Jafaru Sani, said they were returning to the APC with more than 150,000 registered ADC members.

Sani, a former ADC North-West vice chairman and commissioner under El-Rufai, confirmed the development in a telephone interview, saying the group had collectively resolved to return to the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said the defectors had attempted to inform El-Rufai of their decision but could not reach the former governor, who is currently in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

“Yes, I can confirm to you that we have left ADC and returned to APC,” Sani said.

According to him, the group made several attempts to contact El-Rufai before taking the decision, but the efforts were unsuccessful.

“We tried to reach Nasir El-Rufai and inform him of our collective decision to return to APC, but it was not successful because ICPC has blocked all the channels and we were not able to reach him in custody.

“Our welcome ceremony will be held next week. We left together with over 150,000 registered members of ADC to APC to support Governor Uba Sani’s re-election bid,” he added.

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Sani also ruled out the possibility of El-Rufai returning to the APC, insisting that the former governor would not rejoin the party.

“Mallam Nasir El-Rufai will never return to APC,” he declared.

The latest development adds another twist to the political relationship between El-Rufai and his successor, Uba Sani, which deteriorated after the 2023 general elections.

El-Rufai, who currently leads the ADC in Kaduna, has remained in ICPC custody for about 200 days while facing corruption-related allegations at both the Federal High Court and Kaduna State High Court.

The former governor has also been charged in a separate case before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged wiretapping, in a matter involving the Department of State Services (DSS).

Reacting to the defection, the ADC’s 2027 governorship candidate in Kaduna State, Isah Ashiru, said the politicians were free to choose whichever political platform best served their interests.

Ashiru’s spokesman, Abdulwaheed Olayinka Adubi, said the development should be viewed within the context of political interests.

“They have rights to move to any political party. Don’t forget politics is about interest,” he said.