A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, has reaffirmed that former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, remains an active stakeholder in the ruling party.
Addressing journalists in Kaduna on Thursday, Jamoh dismissed speculation over El-Rufai’s political alignment, stating that despite mentions of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC), there has been no formal departure from the APC.
“As far as I’m concerned, El-Rufai is still with us,” Jamoh said. “He may have mentioned other parties, but he continues to contribute to our consultations and remains an influential figure in our political affairs.”
Jamoh described El-Rufai as a “political institution” whose legacy in Kaduna and contributions to the APC remain significant. “You don’t disown someone who governed the state for eight years,” he said, referring to El-Rufai’s service under multiple political platforms, including the PDP, CPC, and APC.
He acknowledged El-Rufai’s right to make personal political decisions but noted that the APC in Kaduna remains open to his return or continued involvement. Jamoh also downplayed the strength of the ADC in the state, arguing it lacks the structure and influence to challenge the APC.
“We hear he is the North-West leader of the ADC, but in Kaduna, they are still underperforming. We don’t even know who is who in the ADC,” he said.
Jamoh also emphasized that El-Rufai, having completed two constitutional terms as governor, cannot contest for the position again. Therefore, any political shift by him should be assessed based on the strength of the party he joins, rather than his personal popularity.
“APC is too strong in Kaduna to be defeated by any opposition,” Jamoh asserted, urging critics to conduct an independent survey on the political landscape of the state.
While acknowledging some internal issues within the APC, he insisted that the party remains the dominant political force in Kaduna and is taking steps to resolve its challenges.
“Don’t fall for the propaganda that people are leaving the APC in droves,” he said. “This is about investing in the party and reaping the rewards in due time.”
