Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has dismissed speculations about his potential defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC), barely 24 hours after he publicly criticized the state of the ruling party.

Speaking at a national conference in Abuja on Monday, El-Rufai described governance and opposition in Nigeria as a “national emergency.”

The event, focused on strengthening democracy, was organized by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, the Centre for Democracy and Development, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa, and the National Peace Committee.

El-Rufai expressed concern over the lack of internal democracy and active party structures within the APC. “I no longer recognize the APC. No party organ has met in two years, no caucus, no NEC, nothing. You don’t even know if it is a one-man show or a zero-man show,” he said.

The former governor also called for higher standards in political leadership, criticizing the constitutional requirement of a secondary school certificate as inadequate for party nominations.

Reflecting on the party’s founding ideals, he noted that the APC was created to tackle corruption, improve the economy, and strengthen national security.

El-Rufai further urged opposition parties to unite and form a coalition capable of challenging the APC and safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy.

His comments sparked speculation that he might be planning to leave the party, but El-Rufai firmly dispelled such rumors during the closing ceremony of the two-day conference in Abuja.

“I am a founder of the APC. How can I be on my way out?” he asked reporters, reaffirming his commitment to the party.

When questioned about his recent criticisms, El-Rufai clarified, “It is because I want them to change.”

He also acknowledged the challenges Nigerians face under the APC’s leadership, saying, “Honestly, I don’t know. I am also figuring out what to do myself.”

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s recent claim that President Bola Tinubu’s administration bribed opposition parties with N50 million each to destabilize their leadership ahead of the 2027 elections.

Atiku made the allegation while participating as a panellist at a national conference on strengthening democracy in Nigeria, held in Abuja on Monday.

The conference was organized by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, the Centre for Democracy and Development, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa, and the National Peace Committee.

Atiku, speaking on the country’s democratic trajectory, alleged that some opposition party leaders openly confessed to receiving N50 million each from the current government.

He warned that Nigeria’s democracy was at risk if the country continued on its current path.

In response, Felix Morka, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, dismissed Atiku’s accusations as “bogus and laughable,” labeling them a sign of the former Vice President’s growing political desperation.

Morka further criticized Atiku for resorting to baseless allegations and rumors, which he described as unbecoming of someone who had held high office and had repeatedly contested for the presidency.

“Atiku’s allegation about the APC government paying out N50 million to opposition figures is absurd and entirely unfounded. It’s clear that Atiku’s desperation is responsible for the collapse of his party, the PDP,” Morka stated.

He also took issue with remarks made by Atiku, Labour Party leader Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who suggested that the APC might be behind the internal turmoil within opposition parties.

Morka accused these figures of deflecting blame for their own party’s disarray, pointing out their inability to manage their internal affairs.

“The ridiculous claims by Atiku, Peter Obi, and El-Rufai about the APC’s involvement in opposition crises are simply an excuse for their failure to handle their own political organizations. These leaders, who couldn’t govern their parties, now claim they are fit to govern the country. Atiku’s PDP is infamous for its power grabs in the South-West, and we will not forget how his former boss, Obasanjo, called elections a ‘do or die affair’ in a desperate attempt to control Lagos,” Morka concluded, stressing that Nigerians deserve better than this kind of political maneuvering.