El-Rufai’s spokesman reacts to rumours of ex-Kaduna governor leaving APC

A former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, says he is not planning on leaving the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Shehu Musa Gabam, had recently met with El-Rufai, sparking rumours of a defection to the party.

But the APC chieftain’s spokesman, Muyiwa Adekeye, says his principal has no intention of dumping the ruling party.

Adekeye said in a statement:

“I consider the most recent speculations about Malam Nasir Elrufai as reflecting an unhealthy obsession with politics.

”People have personal histories and relationships that predate political affiliations. It cannot be a hallmark of civilisation to have friends from within only your political party.

”When people visit each other or mingle across party lines, it is because human relationships exist, distinct from the political or the partisan.

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”Malam Nasir Elrufai is a senior member of the APC, one of the signatories to its merger documents, and a significant contributor to the party’s demonstrated viability.

”These contributions do not require that he treats friends as anathema on account of politics or maintains an antiseptic distance from them.

”Malam Nasir Elrufai hosted some friends to Iftar on Tuesday, 19 March 2024. NSA Nuhu Ribadu was at the Iftar with a senior APC figure like Alh. Kashim Imam.

”SDP National Chairman Shehu Musa Gabam was among the friends who partook in the Iftar. Gabam was not accused of considering crossing over to the APC on account of that.

”When Malam Nasir Elrufai visited Gabam the next day, he was merely returning a visit to a friend who happens to be the SDP chairman.

”Malam El-Rufai is known for being open and forthright. If he had any political decisions to make, it would not be in character to let them be subject to speculation.”