- Nasiru El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State said he consulted former President Muhammadu Buhari before leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Social Democratic Party (SDP)
- El-Rufai shared how he consistently sought Buhari's approval before making key political decisions during his time as governor of Kaduna State
- The former governor emphasised the importance of seeking counsel from trusted individuals, with Buhari among the most influential in his political journey
Former Kaduna State governor Nasiru El-Rufai has revealed that he left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) with the knowledge and consent of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
El-Rufai disclosed this in an interview with BBC Hausa on March 12, where he explained that he had consulted Buhari before deciding to defect to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), a move he had publicly announced in a statement on Monday.
El-Rufai explains his close political relationship with Buhari
El-Rufai emphasised that he often sought Buhari’s counsel on political matters, particularly before making major decisions. He shared that he always consulted a select group of individuals before taking significant actions, and former President Buhari was among them.
He said, “There are certain people that before I do any major thing or make any decision, I consult, and anything they ask me not to do, I don’t do, and former President Muhammadu Buhari is among them.
“I consulted Buhari before leaving the APC. It was on a Friday when I went and met him. I hardly make any major decision without consulting him. I told him to pray for me and give me his blessings, which he did.”
El-Rufai recalls seeking Buhari's approval for commissioner appointments
He went on to describe how, during his time as governor, he would seek Buhari's approval for key decisions, such as the appointment of commissioners.
He recalled taking his list of nominees to Buhari for review, ensuring no one on the list had ever insulted the former president. El-Rufai said that after reviewing the list, Buhari laughed and gave him his approval to proceed with the appointments.
“Even when I was governor of Kaduna before I appointed my commissioners, I took the list to Buhari for cross-checking to see if, from among them, someone ever insulted him.
“He laughed, thanked me and told me you can go ahead and appoint commissioners.”
El-Rufai blasts APC for poor leadership, lack of internal democracy
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Nasir El-Rufai criticised the APC for poor leadership and lack of internal democracy, stating party structures have collapsed.
El-Rufai urged opposition parties to unite ahead of the 2027 elections and called for stronger standards in candidate nominations to address governance challenges.